prominent, 4th 3 out, ridden in 3rd next, no extra before last
tracked leaders on outer, ridden and weakened before 3 out
mid-division, no impression from 3 out
mid-division on inner, ridden in 10th 3 out, no extra
led, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened quickly from next
towards rear, ridden 3 out, no impression
prominent, close 2nd 4 out, led after next, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed after 2 out, 3rd when bad mistake last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders on outer, ridden 4 out, weakened
mid-division on inner, ridden 4 out, weakened from next
rear of mid-division, headway into 9th and ridden 3 out, 9th next, no extra
in rear, last and pushed along halfway, last entering straight, modest late headway from last
mid-division on outer, ridden 4 out, weakened
always prominent, ridden in 5th after 3 out, improved to dispute lead at last, stayed on well run-in, edged ahead close home
tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 5th 3 out, kept on same pace from next
reluctant at start, in rear, ridden in 11th 3 out, no extra
mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression
always prominent, improved to lead 4 out, headed and ridden after next, led again before last, soon joined and strongly pressed, headed and no extra close home
mid-division, 9th 3 out, soon ridden, 8th 2 out, kept on without threatening
tracked leaders, 7th 3 out, soon ridden, 6th next, stayed on from last, went 3rd close home
mid-division on inner, ridden in 12th 3 out, kept on same pace straight
in rear, ridden 3 out, no impression straight
mid-division on outer, ridden 4 out, no impression from next
Gordon Elliott has his horses in top form and Shadow Catcher, who ran very well behind Ted Veale in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, is on the short-list along with stablemate Barneys Honour, though the latter couldn't cope with Mount Colah at Navan last month. That winner set the pace in his previous race at Leopardstown but had no answer when FOSTERS CROSS swept past and Tom Mullins' charge is handed the vote to carry his big weight to victory in this ultra-competitive handicap. AP McCoy's presence on Formidableopponent is a bonus despite the fact his mount never got going at Leopardstown last time when Summer Star completed a double by just touching off Captain Arceus, who was returning to his best. Both the latter pair are expected to go well again.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led early, tracked leader in 2nd and clear of remainder, headway to lead 2 out and asserted early straight, clear when mistake last and kept on well run-in, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f hdl gs in Mar beating Blackstairmountain (11-5) by 12l, 14 ran.
Hisaabaat (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, blundered badly and lost place 5th, behind 2 out, 20th of 28, 45l behind Ted Veale (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Arnaud (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders in 5th, weakened on long run to 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 19, well behind First Avenue (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Mar.
Shadow Catcher 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway under pressure 2 out, soon ridden, kept on from last, no impression with leaders, 4th of 28, 10l behind Ted Veale (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
King Of Queens (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Led, joined 4 out and headed after next, no extra and weakened quickly approaching 2 out, tailed off, 16th of 18, well behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
Loch Ard (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 3 out, weakened after next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Salubrious (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar, 23 ran.
Mount Colah (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Quickly away and made all, well clear from early, reduced advantage 2 out, quickly extended advantage again, not fluent last, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 2m hcp hdl hvy in Mar beating Barneys Honour (10-6) by 8l, 12 ran.
Miley Shah (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked clear leader in 2nd, ridden and dropped to moderate 3rd 3 out, no impression on leaders from 2 out, dropped to moderate 4th before last, 4th of 12, 35l behind Mount Colah (11-0) at Navan 2m hcp hdl hvy in Mar.
Formidableopponent (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Always rear, ridden 3 out and trailing before next, completely tailed off, 17th of 18, well behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
Il Fenomeno (ITY) 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division in touch on outside, headway after 3 out, chased leadesr under pressure next, weakened before last, 12th of 28, 25l behind Ted Veale (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Beef To The Heels (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra before last, 7th of 14, 14l behind King Of Queens (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Mad Brian (IRE) 9-10fav (11-5) Always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden clear next, clear when left further clear at last, easily, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl sft in Mar beating Champagne Agent (11-12) by 34l, 19 ran.
Captain Arceus (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Always prominent, tracked leaders in 3rd, disputed 4 out and headed after next, challenged early straight and led last, kept on under pressure run-in, no extra and headed final strides, 2nd of 18, nk behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
Citizenship 12-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, 6th approaching 2 out and ridden early straight, 5th at last but no extra run-in, 7th of 18, 6l behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
De Valira (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Held up in 4th, left 3rd 4 out, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened before straight, 4th of 5, well behind Dressedtothenines (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Rory Anna (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, 6th next, weakened, last of 10, 29l behind Mallowney (11-1) at Naas 2m hcp hdl in Feb.
Sizing Machine (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, 9th 2 out, ridden entering straight and 7th last, kept on same pace under pressure run-in, 4th of 18, 1 1/2l behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
Tristram Shandy (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, improved to narrow lead before 2 out, strongly pressed, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Whiskey And Rye (10-13) at Limerick 2m hcp hdl 80-116 hvy in Mar.
Enchanted Forest (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway and 7th 2 out, ridden and no extra approaching last, 14th of 18, 22l behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
Gentleman Duke (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders on inner, mistake 4th, 8th 3 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 8th of 18, 6l behind Summer Star (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar.
Summer Star (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) In rear, ridden approaching 2 out and 15th entering straight, headway to go 6th last, stayed on well run-in to lead final strides, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Mar beating Captain Arceus (10-11) by nk, 18 ran.
Speed Dial 10-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra, 5th of 12, 10l behind Sammy Black (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Mar.
Barneys Honour (IRE) 3-1fav (10-6) Mid-division, moderate 6th 5 out, improved into moderate 2nd 3 out, closed on leader 2 out, soon ridden and no impression on winner, kept on one paced from last, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Mount Colah (11-0) at Navan 2m hcp hdl hvy in Mar.
