in rear, 5th from 5th, closed 4 out travelling smoothly, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden, no impression approaching last, one pace
soon tracked leaders in 3rd, on terms briefly 12th, back on terms 2 out, led and stayed on best from early run-in
soon raced in 4th, pushed along briefly 8th, in rear and reminders 10th, no extra approaching 3 out
tracked leader, mistake 4th and some slight mistakes, on terms 10th, left in lead from next, joined briefly 12th, joined again 2 out, headed and kept on without matching winner from early run-in
led, joined 10th, mistake and unseated rider next
soon raced in 5th, last and jumped right 5th and pushed along briefly, slightly slow 7th, slight mistake 12th and reminders, no impression and bad mistake 3 out, no extra
OUTLANDER is already a winner at this level, having beaten Monksland at Leopardstown, and he was still travelling well enough when falling at the fourth last in the JLT at Cheltenham. He was also hampered at the start that day and, provided he is none the worse, compensation awaits. Kerry Lee sends the in-form Kylemore Lough into this grade over fences for the first time and he can get into the action despite a big step up in class though Otago Trail may do best of the overseas raiders. Venetia Williams' charge ran no sort of race at Haydock in January just a couple of weeks after a very impressive success at Chepstow and that may have come to soon. Vedettariat doesn't quite have the form of some of these but he looked very impressive here last month and could improve past some of them.
Blair Perrone (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) In rear, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon no impression, no extra straight, 5th of 6, 34 3/4l behind Outlander (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Kylemore Lough 8-15fav (11-8) Jumped well, made all, clear from 2 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Dormello Mo (11-3) by 8l, 3 ran.
Mckinley 14-1 (11-9) Mistake 2nd, towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 10th (water), at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Outlander (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Hampered start, soon in touch on outside, close up in 4th when fell 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gd in Mar.
Sizing Platinum (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Led 1st, joined briefly 5th, joined again 8th and headed 4 out, pushed along and dropped to 3rd before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 4, 17 1/2l behind Lord Scoundrel (11-4) at Thurles 2m 2f sft in Feb.
Vedettariat (FR) 15-8 (11-12) Chased leader, soon moderate 2nd, slight mistakes 7th and 8th, closer before 3 out, led entering straight, clear before last, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Feb beating Katnap (11-12) by 29l, 6 ran.
Lord Scoundrel (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leader, disputed briefly 5th, progress to dispute again 8th, led 4 out, pushed along and pressed last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 2f sft in Feb beating Tennis Cap (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Otago Trail (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) In touch, outpaced before 8th, plugged on to take 3rd place after last, no impression, 3rd of 5, dist behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Haydock 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
