tracked leaders, mistake 10th, ridden in 4th 4 out, moderate 3rd next, kept on one pace straight
disputed lead, led from 6th, pushed along before 3 out, went clear entering straight, stayed on strongly run-in, comfortably
disputed lead, headed at 6th, ridden in 3rd 4 out, no impression from next
held up in 5th, slight mistake 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in last, ridden 5 out, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th and mistake 5th, close 3rd and slight mistake 10th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden from next, no impression on winner from 2 out, kept on same pace run-in
The veteran HIDDEN CYCLONE has been brilliantly placed by Shark Hanlon to win 17 times including a Grade 2 over fences on this track. He's rated 2lb lower than Sadler's Risk, who won a Grade 3 here in October, but receives 10lb here so victory number 13 looks on the cards. Gordon Elliott runs Diamond King, last year's Coral Cup winner, who hasn't been in the best of form, and Stone Hard, who needs to improve on the form he's shown to date over fences. Draycott Place is consistent enough but needs to find a bit more under the conditions of this race, a remark that also applies to Sandymount Duke though the latter has only had five starts over fences.
Sadler's Risk (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Ran 5th, pushed along before 2 out and no impression in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 7, 7 1/4l behind Open Eagle (11-10) at Thurles 3m sft in Mar.
Sandymount Duke (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Soon led, inclined to jump left, joined 9th, headed from 5 out, lost place from before next and no impression, one pace, 5th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Sizing Codelco (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Diamond King (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Always behind, no impression from 3 out, pulled up before next, at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Stone Hard (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Towards rear, left 3rd after 9th, not fluent at 11th, 4th after 4 out, under pressure and detached before 2 out where left 2nd, soon ridden, no impression on winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Akito (11-10) at Tramore 2m 5f Yielding in Apr.
Draycott Place (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Mid-division, 9th 5 out, ridden in 6th after 3 out, no impression, 6th of 14, 26l behind Sizing Granite (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Led, slightly slow 1st and headed, soon tracked leader, pushed along briefly before 5th, soon 3rd, 4th approaching 4 out, pushed along again before 3 out where slight mistake and under pressure, moderate 3rd approaching straight, one pace, 3rd of 5, 27l behind Diakali (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m Good - Yielding in Apr.
