held up, mistake 7th, headway on inside to take 2nd after 27th, 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd again 100 yards from finish, no impression on winner
held up, headway 26th, left 2nd briefly 27th, one pace and beaten from 2 out
led until 6th, chased leaders, slow 21st, outpaced 28th, plugged on from last
chased leaders, 2nd 7th, led 18th, clear from 2 out, pushed out, easily
tracked leaders, not fluent 15th, 2nd 21st, every chance when fell 27th
tracked leader, led 6th, headed 18th, hampered 27th, 2nd before 3 out, no impression on winner from next, lost 2nd and rider stopped riding briefly 100 yards from finish, keeping on again near finish
several slow jumps early, in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 20th, ridden 24th, still last when hampered and unseated rider 27th
NonRunner
Two of Enda Bolger’s four entries at the four-day stage stand their ground and Cantlow can confirm Punchestown running with stablemate Auvergnat. The pair are aiming to give their trainer a third success in this in the last six years. BLESS THE WINGS finished fourth in this last year and was second at the Festival in March. He gets the nod as he holds Third Intention on the form book. The quirky Bertie Boru could be just the type for a race like this, though is racing from out of the handicap proper. Czech raider Delight My Fire is preferred to stout stayer Goonyella and Gallo's Star of the others.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden in 11th 3 out, kept on one paced, 8th of 25, 16l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Third Intention (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Last pair, pushed along after 10th, never on terms and no chance after, 6th of 7, 18 1/2l behind Royal Regatta (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Goonyella (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders early, soon mid-division, slow and towards rear 4th, mid-division again before halfway, ridden in 7th and no impression 4 out, kept on one pace from next, 6th of 13, 35l behind Cantlow (11-9) at Punchestown 3m sft in Nov.
Cantlow (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m sft in Nov beating Ballyboker Bridge (11-9) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Delight My Fire (FR) (10-6) won at Slusovice 3m 2f sft in Oct beating Catch Life (10-10) by 8l, 12 ran.
Gallo's Star (FR) (10-10) at Dieppe 3m 7f sft in Jul.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) In rear, lost touch 13th, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, never reached leaders, 5th of 15, 14 1/2l behind What A Moment (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Auvergnat (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, progress into 6th at 16th, slight mistake 7 out, ridden in 5th after 3 out, no impression in 4th 2 out, 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Cantlow (11-9) at Punchestown 3m sft in Nov.
