led, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, headed before last, kept on run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden and went 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders before last
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden before 2 out, dropped to 4th before last, no extra
held up in last, no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden from 2 out, led before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in
held up in 5th, no impression from 3 out
This has more of a Grade 1 look about it and Willie Mullins, who has won the last two renewals, will be hoping for a hat-trick via ANNIE POWER before she heads to The Festival. She's hardly been out of a canter in any of her five bumper and hurdles starts to date and though meeting a completely different level of opposition can make her allowance count and grab victory number six. Defy Logic was narrowly beaten on his debut in a Navan bumper but has done everything right in his two starts over timber, making all and scoring by a distance on both occasions. He's already been supported for the Neptune Investment at Cheltenham and will take some pegging back. Don Cossack was a high-class bumper and is already proving himself just as good over timber. His recent defeat by Mozoltov shouldn't be held against him as time may tell he was taking on something special. The remaining quartet are all useful but will need to find a bit more against very powerful opposition.
Defy Logic (IRE) 4-6fav (11-12) Made all, went well clear travelling well after 3 out, 10L clear when left further clear at last, impressive, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy beating Raise Hell (11-4) by 34l, 14 ran.
Don Cossack (GER) 6-5fav (11-2) Settled 4th, headway into 3rd 3 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, disputed before last, kept on same pace run-in, no extra in 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Mozoltov (11-2) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy.
Moscow Mannon (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Made all, ridden and went clear 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Dec beating The Paparrazi Kid (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
The Tullow Tank (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden into 8th entering straight, moderate 6th last, kept on same pace, 4th of 20, 12l behind Legal Exit (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hdl in Jan.
Annie Power (IRE) 1-3fav (11-2) Made all, pushed along from 2 out, clear when mistake at last, stayed on well, eased close home, easily, won at Clonmel 2m hdl hvy beating Dressedtothenines (11-7) by 7l, 8 ran.
Diplomat (USA) 6-5fav (11-0) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, close up after 3 out, led 2 out, ridden before last, headed and slight mistake last, 3rd and kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 17, 7l behind Flaxen Flare (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo mdn hdl sft in Dec.
Art Of Logistics (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden early straight and no chance with easy winner from 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 34l behind Un Atout (11-7) at Naas 2m nh nov hdl hvy in Jan.
