held up off pace in rear, moderate 5th at halfway, ridden in moderate 4th 3 out, left 3rd next, moderate 3rd at last, no impression on leaders and dropped to moderate 4th inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd at 6th, improved to dispute lead travelling well 2 out, soon led, ridden clear before last, slight mistake at last, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong
tracking leaders in 5th when fell at 1st
tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd at 7th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no impression in moderate 3rd when fell 2 out
tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 2nd, improved to lead after 5th, ridden and joined 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner before last, kept on in 2nd inside final furlong
soon trailing in last, never involved and tailed off when pulled up before 5th
led, slight mistake 5th and headed, dropped to 3rd at 6th, 4th at 7th, ridden in moderate 5th 3 out, left 4th 2 out, moderate 4th at last, no impression on leaders and went 3rd inside final furlong
A clash between Henry De Bromhead and Willie Mullins. The former's three entries are headed by A Plus Tard with the remaining pair probably playing for places while the champion trainer has four entries with varying degrees of chances though none dismissed. A Plus Tard, an easy winner of a Listed handicap at last year's Cheltenham festival, needed his reappearance and was in peak form when beating the hot favourite CHACON POUR SOI in a Grade 1 over the course and distance last month when Ordinary World wasn't too far behind. That was a disappointing effort by the runner-up after his brilliant victory over Defi Du Seuil at the Punchestown festival but he gets a quick chance to put matters right. Min has won this for the past two years, beating Ordinary World six lengths a year ago. Robbie Power will ensure there's no hanging around and he's by no means playing second fiddle. Cilaos Emery could turn out to be better than any of them though his victory over stable companion Ballyoisin in the three-runner Hilly Way at Cork was achieved in a very slow time.
Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Soon raced in moderate 5th, some headway but no impression in 4th when switched right after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon distant 3rd and one pace, 3rd of 6, dist behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr.
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 8-15fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, keen hold early, 4th halfway, good jump to take narrow lead 3 out, pressed 2 out, ridden and joined approaching last, headed final 150 yards, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind A Plus Tard (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 4-5fav (11-7) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, closer after 5 out, challenged and slight mistake 4 out, led 3 out, pushed out briefly to assert after next, clear before last, ridden and kept on strongly run-in, won at Cork 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating Ballyoisin (11-10) by 7l, 3 ran.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders on inside, disputing 2nd at 5th, outright 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Bun Doran (11-0) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Min (FR) 8-11fav (11-10) Led, slight mistake 6th, headed after 2 out, led again before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec beating Hardline (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Ordinary World (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, progress to dispute 3rd entering straight, ridden in 3rd approaching last, no impression on leaders run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10 1/4l behind A Plus Tard (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Ornua (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Mid-division on outer, 8th halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened, completely tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Charlie Stout (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
A Plus Tard (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 2 out, ridden to dispute approaching last, narrow lead final 150 yards, kept on well to assert close home, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec beating Chacun Pour Soi (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
