waited with, soon in rear, closed and effort from before 2 out, soon pushed along, no extra and one pace run-in
disputed lead early, soon led, joined 2 out, soon headed, no extra run-in
soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, a little slow at 6th, impeded briefly into straight, pushed along from 2 out in last, not fluent last, no extra run-in
soon prominent, closed travelling smoothly and on terms 2 out, soon led, not fluent last, pressed run-in, stayed on best
disputed lead early, prominent, lost position approaching straight but remained in touch, effort from 2 out, challenged and every chance run-in, kept on without matching winner
CADMIUM started odds-on when beating the previous year's winner Doctor Phoenix in this a year ago before landing the Topham at Aintree. His two runs this campaign have been at Grade 1 level and he's been unable to cope but this is his class. Hardline hasn't won for over a year and his best run came over 2m4f when runner-up to Min in the John Durkan at Punchestown. Henry De Bromhead has a cracking record in the race but Ornua has failed to fire since landing the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in April. Castlegrace Paddy has been racing against the best since landing a Cork Grade 2 in December 2018 and is by no means out of this.
Hardline (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, closer in 3rd after 3 out, pushed along entering straight, 4th and no impression when mistake next, no extra, 4th of 5, dist behind Real Steel (11-8) at Thurles 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Jan.
Cadmium (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead at 4th, led next, headed 4 out, 2nd and mistake next, ridden and weakened from 2 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Held up off pace in rear, moderate 5th at halfway, ridden in moderate 4th 3 out, left 3rd next, moderate 3rd at last, no impression on leaders and dropped to moderate 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 31 3/4l behind Chacun Pour Soi (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Any Second Now (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, close 7th 2 out, pushed along entering straight, ridden in 5th bypassing last, kept on without threatening in 3rd close home, 3rd of 24, 5 1/4l behind Glamorgan Duke (9-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Articulum (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 3 out, close 5th when fell 2 out, at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Ornua (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Led, slight mistake 5th and headed, dropped to 3rd at 6th, 4th at 7th, ridden in moderate 5th 3 out, left 4th 2 out, moderate 4th at last, no impression on leaders and went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 27 3/4l behind Chacun Pour Soi (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
