chased leader, closed approaching 5 out, soon on terms, led before straight, ridden before 2 out, headed and dropped to 3rd approaching last, soon no impression
chased leaders, closed approaching straight, soon pushed along in 3rd, challenged and on terms approaching last, headed and kept on without matching winner run-in
led and clear, reduced lead approaching 5 out where joined, headed before straight, no extra when bad mistake 2 out, tailed off
waited with well off pace towards rear, closer order from 3 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before next
waited with well off pace towards rear, closed from 3 out, 4th travelling well before next, on terms approaching last, led and stayed on best run-in
Willie Mullins has won this for the past two years and bids for a treble via Blazing Tempo. The Galway Plate winner continues to make great strides and showed she had plenty of pace when scoring over hurdles here last month but over today's trip it has to be NOBLE PRINCE. Paul Nolan's charge stays further as he showed when landing the Jewson at Cheltenham but pace is his biggest asset as he has shown on his last two starts when narrowly beaten by Big Zeb and he should get back on the winning trail. Tranquil Sea had Psycho 4l behind at Clonmel in November but both would be better suited by another half-mile and Saludos hasn't returned to action in the best of form.
Tranquil Sea (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Waited with behind leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged and on terms before next, soon headed and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Apt Approach (11-2) at Tramore 2m 5f lst chs (1) hvy.
Noble Prince (GER) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, close up from 5 out, ridden into narrow lead last, headed run-in and kept on same pace, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Big Zeb (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f chs G1 (1) in Dec.
Saludos (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Led, headed 5th, disputed lead briefly 4 out, ridden and led again entering straight, headed before 2 out, kept on onepaced before last, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Lastoftheleaders (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp chs sft in Dec.
Psycho (IRE) 2-1 (11-5) Chased leaders in moderate 3rd, closer 4 out, 2nd before 3 out, ridden to challenge before last, kept on run-in, not match winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Springfield Way (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl in Dec.
Blazing Tempo (IRE) 1-2fav (10-9) Raced in 2nd, bad mistake 3 out, travelling well into straight, challenged and on terms 2 out, soon led, ridden out to assert run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 2f hdl 0-123 hvy in Dec beating Dooney Rock (11-2) by 4l, 5 ran.
