chased leaders on outside, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, disputing 5th 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 18th, disputing 5th 4 out, effort to press for 3rd when not fluent 3 out, no impression on front pair 2 out, went 10 lengths 3rd last, stayed on to close final 100 yards but no impression
held up, fell 2nd
tracked leaders, pushed along after 14th, struggling to hold place after, well behind 18th, plugged on past some beaten horses from 3 out but no chance
tracked leaders, mistake 13th, hit 18th, 4th 4 out, mistake and pressed for 3rd 3 out, 5th and beaten when mistake 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, disputing 9th 4 out, slightly hampered and well beaten 3 out
mistakes in rear, well beaten from 18th, pulled up before last
pressed winner throughout, took narrow lead traveling better than rival 2 out, shaken up and headed last, ridden and edged right about 150 yards out, soon 2 lengths down and held, no extra close home
led but pressed by runner-up throughout, ridden after 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, led again last, went 2 lengths clear 100 yards out, stayed on well, drawing further away when edged right towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 13th, struggling to hold place from 15th, towards rear when hit 18th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, 8th 4 out, no impression after, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division on inside, headway 17th, 3rd 4 out, not fluent 3 out, beaten when not fluent 2 out, lost 3rd last, stayed on same pace
in touch on outside, lost place before 6th, driven and struggling towards rear 17th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, hit 1st, hampered next, disputing 9th 4 out, no impression, well beaten from 3 out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 18th, not fluent 4 out, soon pushed along, travelling better and 6 lengths 6th when fell 3 out
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A terrific renewal which is likely to develop into a real war of attrition. Last year’s winner Sizing John has succumbed to injury but the four that chased him home - Minella Rocco, Native River, Djakadam and Saphir Du Rheu – take their chance again. Native River has had a lighter campaign this time around and will have benefited from his comeback win at Newbury. Might Bite undoubtedly has a favourite’s chance but isn’t entirely straightforward. He has won six of his nine starts over fences but almost threw away the RSA here last year when veering sharply right on the run-in and won’t find it easy to dominate a field of this size. Definitly Red should not be underestimated as he’s made giant strides recently on heavy going, winning Grade 2 contests here and at Aintree. After twice failing to land the odds, last year’s Irish National winner OUR DUKE came good at Gowran last month. He was giving 7lb to Wednesday’s impressive RSA Chase winner Presenting Percy so that looks top-class form and he has won at the highest level over fences before. With stamina and conditions not an issue, he should take all the beating if the fences don’t get in the way. The much-improved Total Recall, who seems to like big fields, may prove the best of his stable’s four entries but the yard has had 18 previous runners in this and is still chasing a first winner. Road To Respect won a handicap here last year and has since proved himself a smart performer so should run his race again.
American (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up behind, headway and close up on inside 9th, joined leader next, led narrowly 11th, headed after 3 out, one pace next, ridden to take 2nd before last, kept on, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Definitly Red (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Anibale Fly (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Held up, 7th at 7th, pushed along in 9th approaching 2 out where fell heavily, at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Bachasson (FR) Evensfav (11-9) Settled behind leaders, improved to dispute at 8th, led next, pressed after 3 out, asserted 2 out, pushed out briefly run-in, easily, won at Tramore 2m 5f lst (1) hvy in Jan beating A Toi Phil (11-12) by 13l, 4 ran.
Definitly Red (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Always prominent, went 2nd at 12th, joined leader 14th, driven to lead after 3 out, clear between last 2, ridden out flat, kept on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan beating American (11-2) by 8l, 8 ran.
Djakadam (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Soon led, almost joined from 4 out, joined from before straight, headed before last, no extra and one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 10 1/4l behind Edwulf (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Edwulf 33-1 (11-10) Soon towards rear, last at 7th, closed to track leaders in 4th before straight where raced on outer, stayed on well run-in to lead close home, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb beating Outlander (11-10) by nk, 10 ran.
Killultagh Vic (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Towards rear, slight mistakes early, 8th at 7th, closed up travelling smoothly to be prominent before straight, led before last where fell, at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Might Bite (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) With leader, led 10th to 11th, led again 4 out, pushed along next, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Double Shuffle (11-10) by 1l, 8 ran.
Native River (IRE) 8-11fav (11-6) Jumped well, made all, fiddled 12th, reached for next, pushed along before 4 out, in command 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly to go further clear run-in, unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb beating Cloudy Dream (11-3) by 12l, 3 ran.
Our Duke (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Led and disputed, bad mistake in lead 4 out, pressed 3 out and soon ridden, jumped slightly left 2 out and joined, kept on best from last and edged ahead run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb beating Presenting Percy (11-3) by 1l, 5 ran.
Outlander (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Always prominent, 2nd at 7th, on terms before straight, headed before last where left in lead, strongly pressed and stayed on well run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Edwulf (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Road To Respect (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, 6th after 7th, progress and not much room briefly after 3 out, ridden to challenge from before last where slight mistake, soon led, pressed and stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Balko Des Flos (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Tracked winner until 4 out, beaten before 2 out, mistake last, last of 3, 36l behind Native River (11-6) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Tea For Two 17-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden after 5 out, never on terms, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Total Recall (IRE) 5-6fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led 5th, ridden straight and stayed on well from before last, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Feb beating Oscar Knight (10-4) by 3l, 16 ran.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, ridden and effort after 4 out, chased winner next, brief chance approaching last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Might Bite (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Minella Rocco (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 5th at 7th, no impression straight and fell last, at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 3 out, chased winner before next, switched inside between last 2, not fluent last, rallied gamely final 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 18, nk behind Coo Star Sivola (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) hvy in Mar.
