mid-division, 11th 4 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out
mid-division, weakened to rear at 4th, behind when pulled up before 6 out
mid-division, ridden in 6th when badly badly hampered at last, no impression run-in
mid-division, ridden 2 out, slightly hampered at last, no impression
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 5 out, led from 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed before next, headed at last, no extra in 5th inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, 15th 4 out, no impression from next
tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, ridden and under pressure in 3rd when fell at last
mid-division on inner, 10th 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
mid-division, headway 3 out, close 4th when bad mistake 2 out, ridden in 4th after last, went 2nd under 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
rear of mid-division,14th 4 out, headway after next, ridden in 10th at last, moderate 5th entering straight, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, 2nd 2 out, improved to lead at last, soon ridden clear, stayed on well final furlong
towards rear, moderate 11th 2 out, soon ridden, moderate 7th entering straight, kept on one pace final furlong
rear of mid-division, blundered badly 7th and pulled up
always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, pulled up run-in
mid-division, 10th 2 out, ridden and no impression from last
rear of mid-division on outer, 12th 4 out, headway next, ridden in 6th 2 out, moderate 4th entering straight, kept on without threatening to go 3rd inside final furlong
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 1st
in rear, progress on outer 3 out, ridden in 7th and slightly hampered at last, no impression run-in
led, bad mistake 5 out and joined, headed 3 out and soon weakened
tracked leaders, 5th 2 out, soon ridden, weakened after last
always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider 7th
As always, one of the toughest handicaps of the year to evaluate. Lord Scoundrel was successful a year ago and Road To Riches in 2014 and both arrive for another crack. The former had Alechi Inois just behind in second last year with Ballycasey and Devils Bride not far away in the minor places and there's no reason why all shouldn't be in the firing-line again. Henry De Bromhead is mob-handed with the lightly-raced Grade 1-placed Balko Des Flos also having an excellent chance while Jessica Harrington may be best served by the Grand Annual winner Rock The World. Ballybolley represents Nigel Twiston-Davies and he was travelling strongly when falling in a tough handicap at Uttoxeter last time but it's difficult to imagine a five-year-old winning the race and the very progressive Slowmotion may be taking on a bit too much. Shanpallas ran well in the race in 2015 and looks to have been prepared for another crack though the vote goes to SHANESHILL, a genuine Grade 1 performer over hurdles as he showed at Auteuil in May and who finished runner-up in the RSA Chase on his last start over fences last year.
Ballycasey (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Made all, pressed briefly from 6 out to after next, ridden to assert before 2 out, left clear 2 out, kept on well, won at Killarney 2m 5f (1) sft in May beating Rock The World (11-2) by 14l, 5 ran.
Alelchi Inois (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Behind most of way, weakened and pulled up before 16th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Lord Scoundrel (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders early, dropped to moderate 12th approaching straight and no extra, 13th of 28, dist behind Our Duke (11-4) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Road To Riches (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led, joined from 4th, marginally headed 11th, slight mistake 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened straight, 5th of 7, 34l behind Sizing John (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Sandymount Duke (IRE) 6-5 (11-7) Pushed along early and led, made all, ridden clear entering straight, stayed on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m 7f mdn gf in Jul beating Mountain Rock (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Rock The World (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up, 7th from 6th, not fluent 8th and slightly impeded, slightly impeded 3 out, no impression after, one pace, 5th of 8, 19l behind Ballyoisin (10-11) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Devils Bride (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Soon chased leaders, 5th from 6th, improved to challenge 3 out, kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Ballyoisin (10-11) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Sadler's Risk (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, pushed along in moderate 8th 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 12, dist behind Polar Present (10-4) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gf in Jun.
Shaneshill (IRE) (10-11) 3rd of 10, 11 1/2l behind L'Ami Serge (10-11) at Auteuil 3m 1f Grp 1 hvy in Jun.
A Toi Phil (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, soon 5th, slight mistake 4 out, progress straight, no impression in moderate 4th before last, one pace, 4th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Disko (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, closer 3rd 4 out, ridden in 6th after 3 out, 4th at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Woodland Opera (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Arbre De Vie (FR) 4-7fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 9, 27 1/2l behind Plinth (11-6) at Killarney 2m 4f sft in May.
Haymount (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Held up, hampered 8th, improved to dispute moderate 4th approaching straight, slight mistake 3 out, soon no extra, 7th of 28, 28 1/4l behind Our Duke (11-4) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Three Kingdoms (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) In rear, closer in 13th 3f out, good headway into 3rd on outer 2f out, led and pushed along 1 1/2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Jul beating Here For The Craic (8-9) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Ballybolley (IRE) 10-3fav (11-2) Mid-division, slightly hampered 3rd, headway 9th, disputing close 3rd when fell 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Slowmotion (FR) 4-1fav (11-7) Rear of mid-division, bumped at 7th, closer in 8th 3 out, soon ridden, 4th and mistake 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 17, 1 3/4l behind Definite Ruby (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Marinero (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent in 5th 4 out and hampered next, soon dropped to 10th and pushed along, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 7th of 13, 28 1/2l behind Phil's Magic (10-2) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Shanpallas (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Towards rear, some progress into moderate 7th 4 out, ridden in moderate 3rd before 2 out, soon no impression in 4th, 4th of 12, 20 1/2l behind Polar Present (10-4) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gf in Jun.
Vintage Vinnie (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, led after 4th, clear after 12th until not fluent 14th, headed after omitted 3 out, no extra last, 6th of 20, 16 1/4l behind Tempestatefloresco (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Deans Road (IRE) 4-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, headway in 3rd before 8th, progress to challenge 2 out, soon pushed along and led last, ridden and kept on run-in, won at Listowel 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Jun beating Lucky Pat (10-9) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Heron Heights (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Towards rear when badly hampered and brought down 1st, at Limerick 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Bentelimar (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, slight mistake 4 out, improved into 3rd into straight, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Peregrine Run (11-12) at Wexford 2m gd in Jul.
Shadow Catcher 7-1 (11-12) Held up, soon raced in moderate 4th, not fluent 10th, pushed along and no impression from 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Attribution (11-12) at Limerick 2m 2f gd in Jul.
Sambremont (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and dropped to rear before next, no extra, 7th of 10, 22l behind Kilcarry Bridge (10-13) at Ballinrobe 2m 7f hcp gd in May.
On Fiddlers Green (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, headway travelling well to lead 3 out, ridden clear after 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jun beating Auvergnat (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
