in rear, lost place before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leader to 4 out, pushed along and one pace in 3rd before 2 out
tracked leaders, chased leader from 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on well from last
led, headed 2 out, ridden before last, one pace and no chance with winner
behind, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
Cup Final has only run once since winning at last year’s Punchestown Festival and was tailed off at Musselburgh. Meadowcroft Boy has twice had a rear view of TEO VIVO this season and there’s no reason to believe he’ll fare any better today. Pauline Robson’s 10-year-old beat Sleepy Haven nine lengths here in January and followed up off a 9lb higher mark at Newcastle. He should be capable of defying another 3lb rise to complete the hat-trick, though Runswick Royal made a successful switch back to hurdles at Ayr last time and has only been raised 2lb - he’s also a dual course winner.
Cup Final (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 10th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 11, 23 1/2l behind El Bandit (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Teo Vivo (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Close up, challenged from 2 out, led run-in, kept on well, won at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Nuts Well (11-9) by 3l, 6 ran.
Runswick Royal (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led last, held on towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Isaacstown Lad (11-4) by nk, 8 ran.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Close up, ridden 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 9, 7l behind Midnight Maestro (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Meadowcroft Boy 8-1 (11-2) In rear, ridden before 2 out, no impression, lost 4th place close home, 5th of 6, 15 3/4l behind Teo Vivo (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.