tracked leaders on inner, 4th 2 out, soon ridden, 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, wandered around briefly approaching 3rd, 4th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders on outer and pulled hard, headway to lead at 4th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, easily
mid-division, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, went 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in
held up in rear, progress into 6th 2 out, soon ridden, moderate 5th at last, no extra
led, headed 4th, ridden in 3rd approaching 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, ridden in 2nd from next, dropped to 4th at last, no extra
always towards rear, pushed along from 3 out, slight mistake next, soon no impression, never a factor
rear of mid-division, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
Willie Mullins won this last year with Felix Yonger and GREAT FIELD will be fancied to follow suit. A couple of victories in moderate company in France don't amount to much but entries in three races at Cheltenham suggest there is much more to come. His stable also run So Young, who returns after almost three years off. Once very highly regarded he has no fancy entries and is probably just making his way back. Sheamus landed two bumpers and a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle before returning there to easily land a novices' event when last seen in 2014 but the form hasn't worked out. Draco was running really well in tough handicaps last summer and if the ground dried out would have to be considered while Prussian Eagle was in excellent form at this time last year and needed the run on his comeback last month.
Draco 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, close up 2 out, ridden and no impression run-in, 6th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Misty Lady (10-6) at Listowel 2m hcp sft in Sep.
Sheamus (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Quickly clear and made all, jumped slightly left, reduced advantage 5 out, pushed along and stayed on well from 2 out, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Nov beating Annamatopoeia (10-11) by 13l, 5 ran.
Great Field (FR) (10-12) won at Lyon-Parilly 2m 1f gs in Nov beating Toudore (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Crafty Power (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, soon remote 3rd, closer order before 4th, improved to challenge travelling smoothly from before straight, on terms from before 2 out where left clear, stayed on well, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Jan beating Thirsty Work (11-10) by 16l, 12 ran.
Prussian Eagle (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) In rear and detached, closer order into straight, pushed along from 3 out where slight mistake, soon no impression and not fluent 2 out, no extra, last of 5, 20 1/2l behind Sizing Tennessee (11-5) at Navan 2m Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Home Farm (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led or disputed lead, pushed along and headed 2 out, no impression on easy winner and not fluent last, no extra, 4th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Noble Inn (11-12) at Clonmel 2m hvy in Nov.
Massini's Trap (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) In rear, pushed along briefly from 3 out, closed straight, under pressure from 2 out, challenged in 2nd approaching last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Sempre Medici (11-10) at Naas 2m 3f (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.
So Young (FR) 16-1 (10-3) 9th of 18, 6 1/4l behind Celestial Halo (10-5) at Auteuil 2m 5f Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Scooping (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, on terms from 4f out, led approaching straight, headed over 1 1/2f out, dropped to 6th under 1f out and one pace, 6th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Solar Benny (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
