held up behind, blundered 4 out, soon struggling in rear, never able to get involved after, weakened 2 out
held up in touch, went 2nd at 11th until before 3 out, tracked front pair, driven after next, rallied and almost upsides last, ridden to lead flat, asserted near finish
held up in touch, not fluent 10th, outpaced 3 out, ridden next, stayed on to snatch 4th post, no impression with leaders
led before 2nd, joined 3 out, driven after next, ridden and headed flat, kept on until no extra and held near finish
mostly disputed 2nd, virtually upsides when pecked 3 out, ridden before next, one pace in 3rd approaching last, kept on but no impression flat
held up behind, stumbled on landing 7th, headway after 3 out, driven to chase leaders before next, soon ridden, never able to get on terms
led to before 2nd, blundered 4th, lost place 11th, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, lost 4th post
mistake 1st, held up behind, headway 11th, 6th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
chased leaders, slightly hampered and dropped to mid-division 4th, outpaced 4 out, ridden after next, never able to challenge, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway on outside after 11th, driven and outpaced after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened next, tailed off
Real Steel has won his last two and should have plenty more to offer. Stablemate Pravalaguna boasts a similar recent record but her overall form seems to fall short of the standard normally required for a race like this and Ruby Walsh has chosen Voix Du Reve, who would have finished ahead of Mengli Khan at Leopardstown last month had he not fallen at the last. But, for once, home-based runners appear to hold the upper hand with Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation old rivals. The latter came out best when the pair clashed in a Grade 2 here at the start of the year but the former took revenge in the Scilly Isles at Sandown when competing off level weights. VINNDICATION finished third at Sandown but was staying on up the hill having got outpaced down the far side. He didn’t jump with his usual fluency that day and it’s been a race to get him here but recent rain is very much in his favour and he may be around to pick up the pieces if they go off too quickly. Kildisart and Capeland graduate from handicaps with plenty to find.
Capeland (FR) 3-1cfav (11-12) Held up, not fluent 7th, headway to challenge 5 out, led 3 out, mistake last, soon headed, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Eamon An Cnoic (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Defi Du Seuil (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd approaching 7th, over-jumped 12th, travelling well approaching 2 out, upsides last, ridden to lead run-in, driven and stayed on, won at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb beating Lostintranslation (11-4) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Kildisart (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders on outside, in tight to 10th and 11th, not fluent 13th, mistake 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led last, edged left flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Jan beating Highway One O One (11-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Led, hit 12th, pushed along before 3 out, hit 2 out, soon ridden, joined last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, kept on, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Raced in 4th, left in 3rd from 2nd, slightly slow and 4th again at 5th, pushed along after 9th, soon dropped to rear and no impression, left moderate 4th from last, kept on same pace and soon 3rd, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Le Richebourg (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
Real Steel (FR) 10-11fav (11-12) Soon led, disputed at times, slight mistake 5th, headed 8th, back on terms from 4 out, led again from next, asserted and stayed on well from last, won at Thurles 2m 2f gd in Feb beating Landofhopeandglory (10-11) by 10l, 4 ran.
Vinndication (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Raced keenly tracking leading trio, tracked leading pair 9th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and one pace before the last, 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Voix Du Reve (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Led, jumped slightly right at times, joined briefly 9th, pushed along before straight, joined again from before last where fell, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
Castafiore (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Jumped boldly, led, hit 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, ridden between last 2, kept on towards finish, always held, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Bags Groove (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gd in Feb.
Pravalaguna (FR) 8-13fav (10-7) Led or disputed lead, led from 5th, mistake next and rider briefly lost iron, went 4 lengths clear before 4 out, travelled well and slight mistake last, drew clear run-in, very easily, won at Naas 2m lst (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Baie Des Iles (11-5) by 14l, 7 ran.
