tracked leaders, ran freely, 5th halfway, pushed along and no extra approaching last, weakened
tracked leaders, led before 3rd, slight mistakes 4 out and 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last where not fluent, no extra
mid-division, 9th 3 out, pushed along and no extra after 2 out
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, 4th 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, eased before last
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, progress to lead briefly approaching last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace
chased leaders on outer, 8th halfway, 5th 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, no extra
mid-division, 12th on inner entering straight, no impression before last, kept on one pace
towards rear, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, 14th entering straight, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th and lost place, dropped to rear 3 out and soon detached, pulled up before next
held up in rear, progress on inner approaching 2 out, went 4th entering straight, switched right and progress to lead last, soon asserted, ridden and kept on well run-in
mid-division, pushed along and dropped towards rear before 2 out, no extra
rear of mid-division, 10th 3 out, pushed along in 6th entering straight and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
mid-division, 11th 3 out, no extra after next, eased approaching last
rear of mid-division on outer, never a factor, pushed along and no impression 2 out, weakened
led, headed before 3rd, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 6th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra, weakened, jumped right last
mid-division, 10th 2 out, some progress on outer in straight and 6th briefly before last, no extra run-in
towards rear, some progress approaching 2 out, pushed along in 13th entering straight, progress between horses to go 6th last, kept on run-in
tracked leaders on inner, 6th halfway, pushed along in 7th entering straight and no impression approaching last, no extra
rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace in straight
rear of mid-division on outer, 16th entering straight, pushed along in 10th last, no impression run-in
rear of mid-division on outer, never a factor, no extra after 2 out
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 2 out, pushed along and no impression in 4th before last, no extra
towards rear, pushed along in 17th on outer entering straight, ridden and kept on from before last, went 7th close home
Not one favourite has won this in 10 renewals and it hasn't paid to carry big weights. With that in mind Bamako Moriviere may prove best of Willie Mullins’ quartet as the former France-trained winner will be better for his run at Limerick last month. Tony Martin is another with four entries with recent track winner Whatsforuwontgobyu possibly the best of them though Barry Geraghty has chosen to ride the progressive AFTER RAIN for J P McManus and he looks on the right sort of mark to land this ultra-competitive contest. Desoto County bounced back to form at Thurles and has more to offer as does Vive La France, though the latter hasn't been seen since July. De Name Escapes Me is just above the mark normally successful and it's a tough ask for a novice.
Ivan Grozny (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress early straight and led after 2 out, asserted before last, kept on under pressure run-in, held on, won at Fairyhouse 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Kitten Rock (11-4) by hd, 13 ran.
Bentelimar (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, progress after halfway and went 5th approaching straight, ridden after 2 out and no impression on easy winner in 2nd before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 18l behind Rossvoss (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Waxies Dargle 12-1 (11-4) Never better than mid-division, lost place before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Buiseness Sivola (FR) 14-1 (10-7) 5th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Blue Dragon (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 3f hvy in Jun.
Kalkir (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division in touch on inside, lost place when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Cliff House (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, progress before 3 out and disputed approaching straight, headed 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Desoto County (10-10) at Thurles 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
The Plan Man (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, under pressure from 3 out, soon no extra, pulled up approaching 2 out,, at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Archive (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, progress to lead after 2 out, jumped right last, headed under pressure and bumped by winner 100 yards out, no impression close home, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Squouateur (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Bamako Moriviere (FR) 10-3 (11-4) Bad mistake 1st, soon raced in 3rd, closed up from 3 out, pushed along in 2nd 2 out, soon no impression, disputed moderate 2nd at last, dropped to 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 12 1/2l behind Dicosimo (11-7) at Limerick 2m lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Henry Higgins (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, progress on inner to be close up before straight, soon on terms, led approaching 2 out travelling smoothly, pushed along and headed between last 2, one pace,, 5th of 15, 10l behind Blue Hell (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Princely Conn (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, mistake 3 out, weakened, eased, completely tailed off, last of 14, dist behind Rossvoss (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Tigris River (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Soon raced in 4th, pushed along to close approaching 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 4th of 6, 13 1/2l behind Dicosimo (11-7) at Limerick 2m lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Vive La France (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, 10th halfway, progress into 5th 2 out, led before last, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Jul beating The Plan Man (11-9) by 6l, 13 ran.
Gladiator King (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, ridden after 3 out, no impression 2 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Copy That (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Misty Lady (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along and mistake 3 out, soon headed, ridden and no impression on easy winner from next, under pressure and no extra before last, 6th of 14, 32 1/4l behind Rossvoss (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Whatsforuwontgobyu (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, 10th on outer halfway, progress travelling well early straight and led last, pushed out to assert and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hvy in Dec beating Mighty Concorde (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Desoto County 11-10fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, 6th halfway, progress to dispute approaching straight and travelled well to lead 2 out, ridden to assert run-in, kept on, won at Thurles 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Cliff House (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
After Rain (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Towards rear, slight mistake 4th, pushed along and headway on outer from before straight, ridden to chase winner from before last, kept on same pace,, 3rd of 15, 5 1/4l behind Blue Hell (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Ancient Sands (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear early, mid-division in 6th halfway, progress into 4th 2 out, improved to lead early straight, ridden before last, headed run-in and no extra, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Copy That (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Colla Pier (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up in last pair, steady headway 4 out, 2nd going well enough before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace and no chance with winner but kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Tea In Transvaal (11-0) at Newbury 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Sir Scorpion (IRE) 6-4fav (10-13) Settled mid-division, moderate 8th halfway, closer in 5th 3 out, ridden into 3rd last, left 2nd, soon stayed on to lead run-in, kept on well closing stages, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr beating Lilshane (10-3) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Good As Gold 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, led 3 out, pushed along after next and 1 length lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hvy in Jan beating Mick Thonic (11-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bishopslough (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mistake 1st, soon held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden last, no impression straight and kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Sizing Platinum (11-6) at Galway 2m 2f gd in Jul.
De Name Escapes Me (IRE) 11-10fav (11-10) Soon raced in 5th, a little keen, some slight mistakes, headway to chase clear leader from before 3 out, closed in 2nd before straight travelling smoothly, led from between last 2, soon clear, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, comfortably,, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Organisedconfusion (11-3) by 5l, 8 ran.
Okotoks (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, closer in 7th entering straight, ridden in 6th 3 out, left 4th and slightly hampered 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 9, 17 1/4l behind Falcon Crest (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
