tracked leaders, 3rd approaching halfway, lost position after 6th, kept on same pace from before straight
mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, not fluent 9th, soon reminders in rear, quickly behind, pulled up before final hurdle
chased leaders, 6th approaching halfway, slight mistake 8th, no extra approaching final hurdle
prominent, soon 2nd, on terms after 9th, soon led, pressed from before final hurdle where slight mistake, soon joined, headed before straight, no extra
chased leaders, 4th approaching halfway, pushed along after 9th, slight mistake final hurdle, no extra straight
mid-division early, 9th approaching halfway, pushed along after 7th, soon headway, kept on without threatening straight
mid-division early, 10th approaching halfway, pushed along briefly after 6th, soon headway, rider dropped whip into straight, kept on without matching front pair from over 1f out
waited with, soon towards rear, closed to chase leaders after 9th, kept on same pace from before straight
soon led, slight mistake 8th, not fluent next, soon joined and headed, weakened final hurdle
chased leaders, slight mistake 4th, 7th approaching halfway, progress 6th, challenged from before final hurdle, soon on terms, headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong
chased leaders, 5th approaching halfway, slightly slow jump 7th, slight mistake 9th, soon pushed along, slight mistake final hurdle, no extra straight
waited with, 10th after 6th, soon progress to chase leaders, slight mistake 8th, challenged from before final hurdle, soon on terms, led inside final furlong and kept on well
waited with, 11th approaching halfway, slight mistake 6th, not fluent 8th, no extra approaching final hurdle
waited with, 12th approaching halfway, slight mistake 8th, no extra from before straight, soon pulled up quickly
waited with, soon towards rear, not fluent 3rd, soon last and not always fluent jumping, headway into mid-division from before straight and no impression, kept on well without threatening final furlong
held up, bad mistake and unseated rider 2nd
Willie Mullins won this six times in succession before Joseph O'Brien scored with a 25/1 chance last season. The latter has Choungaya and Rhinestone engaged here with the latter looking the more likely of the pair though he'll need to put a poor latest run behind him. The champion trainer saddles five with the mare SALSARETTA probably the pick on her comfortable defeat of subsequent Grade 2 winner Felix Desjy at Limerick. She'll be suited by the extra 2f and though needing to step up again should do so and gain her first victory at this level. Her stable companion Relegate won a Grade 2 bumper at this fixture last year and has more to offer over timber while Pat Fahey's Dunvegan looked one to follow when making all on his hurdling bow at Fairyhouse. Defi Bleu hasn't been beaten far in a pair of Grade 2 races while stable companion Commander Of Fleet found the minimum trip too short in the Royal Bond after making a successful hurdling debut over 2m4f at Punchestown.
Choungaya (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead after 3 out, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Easy Game (11-2) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Come To Me (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, took keen hold, ridden in 6th after 3 out, weakened, 7th of 8, dist behind Battleoverdoyen (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Defi Bleu (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along and lost place 2 out, ridden into 2nd at last, kept on run-in, not match winner, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Derrinross (11-6) at Limerick 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Dorrells Pierji (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Ran freely towards rear early, 5th after 9th, headway on outer to 2nd 2 after 2 out, under pressure in 3rd at last, ridden and no extra run-in, last of 6, 7 3/4l behind Derrinross (11-6) at Limerick 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Dunvegan (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Prominent and slow 1st, soon led, pushed along after 2 out, asserted approaching last where 3 lengths advantage when left clear, kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Dec beating Swordsman (11-3) by 7 1/2l, 16 ran.
First Approach (IRE) 4-5 (11-5) won at Thurles 2m 6f gd in Jan
Gallant John Joe (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 4th halfway, headway into 2nd entering straight, pushed along and slight mistake last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Clash Of D Titans (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Getareason (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead 2 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner disputing 2nd approaching last, 3rd inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Battleoverdoyen (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Magnium (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and joined entering straight, headed 2 out, no impression on winner disputing 2nd approaching last, dropped to 4th inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Battleoverdoyen (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Rhinestone (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, close 5th when bad mistake 3 out, soon pushed along, 4th next, ridden in moderate 5th at last, kept on without threatening in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 13 3/4l behind Easy Game (11-2) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Dec.
The Big Dog (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Tracked leader, slight mistake 6th, 2nd halfway, headway to lead after 3 out, pushed along and not fluent next, ridden approaching last where mistake, kept on well to draw clear run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn sft in Jan beating Voix Des Tiep (11-12) by 6l, 17 ran.
Commander Of Fleet (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake at 2nd, headway to dispute lead 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, dropped to last at last, no impression, last of 4, 8 1/4l behind Quick Grabim (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) gd in Dec.
Embrun Mitja (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd after 4 out, headway to lead 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn Yielding in Dec beating Face The Facts (11-7) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Malinas Jack 8-1 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, slightly slow at 3rd, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, stayed on into 2nd approaching last, led run-in, kept on well under pressure closing stages, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Dec beating Foxy Jacks (11-7) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Relegate (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd at halfway, improved to dispute lead and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, mistake at last, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well under pressure close home, won at Naas 2m mdn Yielding in Dec beating Caravation (11-7) by 1/2l, 25 ran.
Salsaretta (FR) 11-8fav (11-4) Raced in 3rd, improved to lead after 1st, headed and dropped to 2nd after 4th, pushed along and closed on leader before 2 out, switched to outer before last and soon challenged, led run-in and kept on well under pressure, won at Limerick 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Felix Desjy (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
