chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, edged left and not able to quicken before last, rallied flat, went 2nd towards finish, stayed on, not able to trouble winner
led after 1st, headed and slow 2nd, stayed prominent, lost place after 3 out, behind in last and mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway on inside after 2 out, disputing 13th last, no impression
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway after 2 out, 7th last, stayed on, not quite able to challenge leaders
held up in rear, behind from 3rd
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, ridden and struggling from 4th
held up in mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway final bend, not clear run before last, ran on flat, never nearer
mid-division, some headway 2 out, driven final bend, weakening before last
held up in mid-division, good headway 3 out, challenged after 2 out, soon led, edged right and headed approaching last, led again briefly flat, no extra towards finish
prominent, led 2nd, headed after 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders on inside, driven after 2 out, not clear run approaching last, stumbled at last, no extra
held up in mid-division, bumped about on inside approaching 2 out, again not much room at 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, disputing 13th last, kept on, never dangerous
chased leaders, challenged after 2 out, led and carried right before last, headed flat, stayed on
chased leaders, driven final bend, 6th last, no impression flat
held up towards rear, headway on outside 2 out, not clear run before last, well held flat
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, switched left before last, close up behind leaders flat, stayed on
held up, mistake 1st, bumped about on inside before 2 out, 12 last, no extra
prominent, not fluent, weakened after 2 out
not fluent 1st, always towards rear
held up towards rear, some headway but still 12th flat, ran on flat, nearest finish
led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, driven and headway approaching last, never involved
held up in rear, keen early, bad mistake 5th, no impression
held up in mid-division, not clear run and lost ground after 3 out, headway final bend, 3rd last, led flat, stayed on well, clear towards finish
NonRunner
Willie Mullins has won this five times but has had to share the limelight in recent years with Dan Skelton, who has saddled three of the last five winners. Ganapathi looks the pick of the former’s entries making his handicap debut having been highly tried in novice events. Skelton relies on dual winner Third Time Lucki, runner-up to Supreme Novices’ third For Pleasure here in the autumn and fourth in last year’s Champion Bumper. Martin Brassil’s runners here are always worth a second look and You Raised Me Up, unbeaten this season, looks to have been laid out for this. Drop The Anchor beat Champagne Gold and Saint D'oroux in the Ladbrokes at Leopardstown and that is normally a good trial while Fifty Ball and Edwardstone placed in the Betfair at Newbury which has also provided the winner of this in the past. GOWEL ROAD lacks experience but made a winning start in handicaps at Newbury and followed up under a penalty at the same track. He will need more but cheekpieces are fitted today to help him concentrate and he is likely to be storming up the hill off his low weight. Le Patriote isn’t badly treated if rediscovering his sparkle and may appeal to each-way players.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 9-4 (11-2) Prominent, slight mistake 2nd, 2nd from 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, soon under pressure, no impression after 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 5, 7 1/2l behind Jason The Militant (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Global Citizen (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led 1st, not fluent and headed 4th, went left and struggling 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Cayd Boy (FR) 5-1 (11-10) A little keen, waited with, 10th after 2nd, slight mistake 6th, headway and effort straight, 2nd run-in, soon no impression, one pace, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Advanced Virgo (10-2) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Edwardstone 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and made headway before 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat, 3rd of 23, 4 1/2l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Darasso (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Waited with, slight mistake 3rd and pushed along briefly and at stages after, 4th after 4th, slight mistake 5th, slight mistake 3 out and under pressure, no impression from before straight, soon 3rd and one pace, 3rd of 5, 21 1/2l behind Jason The Militant (11-11) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Buildmeupbuttercup 20-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, some headway 2 out, pushed along in 9th entering straight, soon no impression and no extra from before last, 16th of 22, 35 1/4l behind Drop The Anchor (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Drop The Anchor (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Mid-division, some headway 2 out and 7th entering straight, pushed along to go 4th at last, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead closing stages, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Champagne Gold (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 22 ran.
Champagne Gold (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, some headway after 3 out and 6th entering straight, pushed along and progress to lead before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, headed closing stages, 2nd of 22, 1 1/4l behind Drop The Anchor (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Third Time Lucki (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, pressed leader from 2 out to last where made mistake, no extra run-in and lost two places inside final 110 yards, 4th of 7, 5l behind Bareback Jack (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m (2) sft in Feb.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Raced keenly in 3rd, closer in 2nd after 3f, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Earlofthecotswolds (11-0) at Kempton 2m (4) pol in Feb.
You Raised Me Up (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Soon mid-division, 8th after 4th, some headway on inner 6th, 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, challenged from before last where slightly bumped with rival, soon led and strongly pressed, stayed on best closing stages, won at Naas 2m 3f sft in Feb beating Petibonome (11-6) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Wolf Prince (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Towards rear, ridden and no impression in 9th 2 out, kept on one pace, 11th of 20, 20 1/2l behind Damalisque (10-2) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Thyme White (FR) 28-1 (11-1) Raced keenly in midfield, headway to chase leaders going well before 3 out, every chance last, soon ridden, no extra final 100yds, 9th of 23, 12 1/2l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Milkwood (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, smooth headway travelling well before 2 out, ridden before last, faded on run-in, 11th of 23, 15 3/4l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 5th 3 out, 4th and pushed along entering straight, ridden and no impression approaching last, no extra, 9th of 22, 15 1/4l behind Drop The Anchor (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Ganapathi (FR) 18-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway after 3 out and 6th next, 4th and pushed along entering straight, no impression before last, no extra run-in, 5th of 13, 19 1/4l behind Gaillard Du Mesnil (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 6f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outer, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, some headway in 8th before last, kept on run-in, 6th of 22, 9 3/4l behind Drop The Anchor (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Saint D'Oroux (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway in 6th after 3 out, pushed along and progress entering straight, disputed lead briefly approaching last, ridden and no impression in 3rd run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 22, 6 1/4l behind Drop The Anchor (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Gowel Road (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led, ran around approaching 2nd, headed 3 out, led again after last, stayed on well flat, won at Newbury 2m (3) gs in Feb beating Good Ball (10-13) by 5 1/2l, 12 ran.
Getaway Gorgeous (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, improved into 3rd before 2 out, ridden in 4th after 2 out, under pressure in 6th entering straight, no extra before last, 10th of 20, 28l behind Heaven Help Us (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Anna Bunina (FR) 4-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, progress into moderate 5th 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Grandmaster Flash (9-9) at Dundalk 2m pol in Feb.
Fifty Ball (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway to track leaders before 3 out, ridden to challenge last, hung left flat, ran on well but no match for winner, 2nd of 23, 3l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 4-9fav (12-0) Prominent, soon 2nd, 3rd after 3rd, on terms approaching 3 out, soon led, joined straight, headed after 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Hurricane Cliff (11-13) at Naas 2m mdn sft in Feb.
Strong Glance 6-5fav (11-8) In touch in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leader entering final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish, readily, won at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Feb beating Beat The Judge (11-2) by 1l, 7 ran.
Belfast Banter (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up in touch in rear, headway on outer after 3 out, 3rd travelling well 2 out, ridden and disputed 2nd approaching last, 2nd at last, kept on without threatening winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Echoes In Rain (10-12) at Naas 1m 7f (1) Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Le Patriote (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Midfield, ridden and lost place 12th, unseated rider 4 out, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
