prominent, not fluent 7th, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, challenged under pressure run-in, soon led, stayed on best
soon tracked leaders, 4th halfway, effort straight, kept on same pace from before last
took keen hold towards rear, no impression from before straight
held up in touch, 6th halfway, moderate 5th before straight, soon no extra
chased leaders, 5th halfway, no impression from before straight, one pace
towards rear, not fluent 7th, no impression from before straight, kept on same pace without threatening
towards rear, pushed along 12th, soon no danger
led, mistake 10th, joined 3 out, headed before 2 out, no extra and one pace from before last
soon prominent, on terms 3 out, led before 2 out, soon attempted to assert and went on, strongly pressed run-in, soon headed and kept on without matching winner
It’s not a particularly good advert for the diversity of riches when, among nine runners in a Grade 1, five are from one leading stable and four from another. Willie Mullins has the edge in numbers and Al Boum Photo is probably his best hope as he may have been placed in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last month had he not fallen two out. He’d earlier finished ahead of Invitation Only, Tombstone and The Storyteller in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. Gordon Elliott can land the spoils, however, with SHATTERED LOVE (NAP) who took full advantage of her mares’ allowance to take the JLT at over this trip at Cheltenham. She’d won another Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December and may not yet have finished improving.
Al Boum Photo (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division on inside, closing 5th when mistake 4 out, ridden after 3 out, 4 lengths 3rd and looking beaten when jumped right and fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m sft in Mar.
Invitation Only (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up in touch in last trio, still going well enough when sprawled badly on landing 4 out, not recover and quickly pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
Montalbano 5-2jfav (11-2) Led early, tracked leaders in 3rd after, dropped to last from 9th, progress and slight mistake 3 out, chased winner when bad mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Thurles 2m 2f lst (1) sft in Mar.
Saturnas (FR) 8-11fav (11-12) Led and disputed early, mistake 5th and headed, disputed lead 3 out, slight mistake 2 out and headed, soon ridden, switched right before last, led after last, stayed on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 1f sft in Jan beating De Plotting Shed (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
The Storyteller (IRE) 5-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, one pace when not fluent 2 out, rallied to chase leader and 1 length down last, ridden and hung right under pressure flat, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Splash of Ginge (10-8) by 1 3/4l, 22 ran.
Tombstone (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Held up in touch, soon raced in 4th, dropped to last 3 out and no impression, impeded next and left chasing leaders, one pace, 3rd of 5, 18 3/4l behind Castlegrace Paddy (11-2) at Thurles 2m 2f lst (1) sft in Mar.
Tycoon Prince (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, blundered badly and lost place 4 out, not recover and pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Up For Review (IRE) 1-5fav (11-12) Made all and raced on outer throughout, slight mistake 3rd, went clear of principal rival travelling well 3 out, stayed on strongly, not extended, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f hvy in Mar beating Fire In His Eyes (11-12) by 15l, 7 ran.
Shattered Love (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, switched towards outer travelling well approaching 3 out, challenged next, ridden to lead between last 2, clear when edged left flat, in no danger after, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar beating Terrefort (11-3) by 7l, 9 ran.
