in rear, struggling 7f out, soon well behind, pulled up after
mid-division on outside, closed over 6f out, led over 3f out, headed over 1f out, switched left over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, stayed on
held up in rear, headway over 6f out, 5th and ridden over 2f out, unable to get on terms, kept on
mid-division, struggling 8f out, well behind over 6f out, pulled up after
always towards rear
mid-division, headway over 5f out, challenged 3f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, readily
prominent or disputed lead until over 9f out, weakened from 6f out, pulled up inside final 3f
raced keenly and hung right, soon in touch, led over 9f out, clear over 7f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, headway on inside 5f out, went 3rd over 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner
mid-division, well beaten 6f out, pulled up inside final 3f
led or disputed lead until over 9f out, led over 5f out, headed over 4f out, weakened inside final 3f
chased leaders on inside, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f
prominent early, chased leaders, lost place over 5f out
mid-division, headway over 5f out, outpaced 3f out, weakened from over 1f out
in touch in mid-division, closed 8f out, lost place on inside over 4f out, soon well beaten
held up towards rear, headway on outside 6f out, ridden over 3f out, close 3rd and ridden 2f out, 4th and held from over 1f out, kept on
prominent early, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened from 2f out
prominent early, held up in touch, weakened from over 5f out
held up towards rear
held up in rear, headway towards outside from 6f out, ridden 3f out, stayed on but unable to get on terms
NonRunner
NonRunner
Willie Mullins saddled the first three in this in 2018 and the first and second in 2020 as well as last year. He’s trained the winner eight times altogether and has seven entries this year with all of them winners last time but most attention will be focused on FACILE VEGA. He beat Joyeux Machin six lengths on debut and was even more impressive on his second start in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown. The yard’s first string doesn’t always triumph in this, however, and Redemption Day, with Paul Townend in the saddle, is the only one so far to inflict defeat on Music Drive. The latter is trained by Gordon Elliott, who has won this twice in the last five years and is bullish about the chances of American Mike. The son of Mahler has won both starts under Rules in a hack canter and is another who could go right to the top. The filly Poetic Music is 3-3 but Madmansgame and Viva Devito may be best of the rest in a contest that is almost always dominated by the Irish.
Ain't No Sunshine (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden and strongly pressed 3f out, soon narrowly headed, in front again towards finish, won at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Feb beating Eloi Du Puy (10-7) by 1l, 7 ran.
American Mike (IRE) 1-8fav (11-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead travelling well 2f out, went well clear 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, very easily, impressive, won at Navan 2m lst (1) Good - Yielding in Dec beating Battling Bessie (11-6) by 17l, 6 ran.
Authorised Speed (FR) 13-8fav (11-5) Chased leaders out wide, headway out wide 3f out, hung left and ridden over 2f out, soon unable to quicken, plugged on in modest 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Top Dog (11-5) at Newbury 2m lst (1) gs in Feb.
Call Me Harry (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Held up in mid-division on inside, headway tracking leaders over 3f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, effort on near side rail over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m (5) pol in Feb beating Ri Na Farraige (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cillians Charm (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind You Wear It Well (10-9) at Catterick 2m (5) sft in Feb.
Facile Vega (IRE) 8-11fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway travelling well to lead 2f out, soon asserted and 5 lengths clear 1f out, kept on well, very easily, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Sandor Clegane (11-11) by 12l, 7 ran.
Godot (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5f out, no impression, outpaced and well held over 2f out, 7th of 13, 27 1/2l behind Leave Of Absence (11-5) at Kempton 2m mdn (5) gs in Feb.
Houlanbatordechais (FR) (10-3) Made all, ran on strongly from 2f out, easily, won at Durtal 1m 6f sft in Oct beating Grenade D'alene (10-4) by 4l, 7 ran.
James's Gate (IRE) 2-5fav (12-0) Led, joined after 5f, led again 6f out, travelled well entering straight and 3 lengths clear over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, very easily, won at Punchestown 2m hvy in Feb beating Secret Artist (12-0) by 8l, 12 ran.
Joyeux Machin (FR) 13-8fav (12-2) Tracked leaders, short of room and bumped rival over 2f out, soon pushed along ridden in 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Navan 2m Yielding in Jan beating Don Chalant (12-2) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Madmansgame 4-11fav (12-0) Made all, ridden over 1f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Navan 2m hvy in Feb beating Landrake (12-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Music Drive (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Disputed lead, headed after 4f, pushed along to challenge 2f out and soon disputed, ridden and led 150 yards out, kept on well, won at Naas 1m 7f sft in Feb beating Sandor Clegane (11-11) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ocean Of Mercy (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, driven over 1f out, kept on, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 15, 1l behind Bonttay (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Our Jester 5-2 (11-8) Tracked leader, led entering final 4f, quickened pace and went clear 2f out, in no danger after, won at Lingfield 2m (2) pol in Jan beating Swapped (11-8) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Redemption Day 8-11fav (12-2) Tracked clear leader, took closer order in 2nd halfway, travelled well to lead 1 1/2f out, asserted under 1f out, kept on well, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m sft in Dec beating Music Drive (12-2) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Seabank Bistro (IRE) 5-4 (12-2) Rear of mid-division early, mid-division and briefly pushed along after 4f, pushed along again 6f out, good headway into 3rd entering straight, led travelling well 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Jan beating Santonito (12-2) by 5l, 15 ran.
Spanish Present (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) hvy in Feb beating Shantou's Melody (11-9) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Top Dog (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Raced keenly tracking leader, led and hung badly left final 2f, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m lst (1) gs in Feb beating Rosy Redrum (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Viva Devito (IRE) 5-6fav (12-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, took keen hold, headway to lead pulling hard 5f out, soon went well clear, briefly pushed along under 1f out, eased inside final furlong, very easily, won at Tramore 2m sft in Dec beating Bugs Moran (12-2) by 16l, 9 ran.
Poetic Music 7-2fav (10-5) Held up in rear, headway when not much room on outside rail over 4f out, switched left over 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 1m 6f lst (1) sft in Jan beating Iliade Allen (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Esperti (IRE) 13-8 (11-9) Tracked leader in 3rd at slow pace, pace quickened 4f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, last 1 1/2f out, no impression final furlong, last of 4, 4 1/2l behind Hey Johnny (11-9) at Punchestown 2m gd in Oct.
Rosy Redrum (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, switched right and steady headway out wide over 2f out, shaken up and hung left 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong,, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Top Dog (11-5) at Newbury 2m lst (1) gs in Feb.
