tracked leading trio, closer on outside before 2 out, 2nd soon after 2 out, 2 lengths down and pushed along last, stayed on to hold 2nd but never going pace of winner run-in
held up in 6th, closer 3 out, went 3rd between last 2, stayed on run-in pressing for 2nd, never going pace of winner
last pair, jumped slowly 5th, outpaced and lost touch after 3 out, tailed off
tracked leader, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead travelling strongly approaching last, shaken up and quickened right away run-in, impressive
pulled hard in last pair, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, never on terms
held up in 5th on inside, outpaced before 2 out, no chance after
bit keen tracking leaders on inside, outpaced in 4th between last 2, soon ridden and no impression, plugged on
raced keenly, led and set steady pace, jinked left approaching hit 2 out and headed, weakened soon after, tailed off
Adagio boasts valuable course experience and has twice finished ahead Historic Heart this season. He’s only been beaten once so far over timber and should run his race again but others are probably more progressive. Tritonic has a Flat winner’s turn of foot, which he’s shown in both starts so far over hurdles. He was very impressive in the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton last month and there is no reason why he shouldn’t handle this stiffer track. Zanahiyr is 3-3 over timber and only had to be pushed out to land the odds in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown when last seen but his Irish form ties in very closely with that of the also-unbeaten QUILIXIOS so it may be an anomaly that Henry De Bromhead’s gelding has been available at more than twice the odds of Denise Foster’s runner. Tax For Max was very green at Fairyhouse and can only improve so might be a better bet than new stablemate Haut En Couleurs and the filly Talking About You.
Adagio (GER) 5-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, clear flat, ridden out, readily, won at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Nassalam (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Haut En Couleurs (FR) (10-5) won at Auteuil 2m 2f hvy in Oct beating Swiss Guard (10-7) by hd, 18 ran.
Historic Heart (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-divison, headway into chasing group approaching 3 out, chased leader after 2 out, kept on but no match for the winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Fiveandtwenty (10-10) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Quilixios 4-6fav (11-2) Settled behind leader early, 3rd from 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, soon pushed along briefly to close on leader, travelled well to challenge entering straight, soon led, pushed out to assert before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Saint Sam (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 6 ran.
Tax For Max (GER) 11-4 (11-2) Very keen, tracked leaders, soon 3rd, switched left approaching 2 out, soon pushed along, chased winner before last, no impression run-in, one pace, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Teahupoo (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Tritonic 5-6fav (10-12) Patiently ridden in mid-division, good headway tracking leaders before 3 out, hit 3 out, challenged and flattened 2 out, soon led, quickened clear run-in, impressive, won at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb beating Casa Loupi (10-12) by 10l, 9 ran.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 1-2fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to challenge travelling well after 2 out, pushed along to lead before last, asserted run-in and kept on well, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec beating Busselton (11-0) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Talking About You 5-2 (11-3) Pressed leader, led 3 out, headed, jumped left and not fluent last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Her Indoors (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f lst fll (1) sft in Jan.
