rear of mid-division, headway after 4 out and 5th next, pushed along and went 3rd entering straight, closer at last, ridden and kept on well run-in to lead close home
chased leaders on inner, 6th halfway, headway in 3rd 3 out, 4th entering straight and no impression approaching last, no extra
tracked leaders, hampered 8th, 4th halfway, 5th after 3 out, pushed along and no extra after 2 out
towards rear, stumbled and unseated rider 9th
always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, no extra from next
tracked leaders early, slight mistake 1st, mid-division, 7th 4 out, pushed along and no extra after next, weakened, pulled up before last
mid-division, jumped left 4th, slow 6th and hampered 8th, soon dropped towards rear, detached before 4 out, soon no extra, pulled up before last
led, joined briefly 3rd and 4th, headed 6 out, closer 2 out and pushed along to lead again approaching last, ridden and kept on run-in, headed closing stages
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 6 out, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and headed approaching last, ridden and kept on run-in, 3rd and no impression closing stages
tracked leaders, 4th when fell 8th
rear of mid-division, 9th 4 out, pushed along and no impression in 7th approaching 2 out, soon no extra
rear of mid-division, pushed along and no extra after 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, some headway in 8th after 3 out, 5th and pushed along after 2 out, no impression early straight, no extra before last
prominent, disputed briefly 3rd and 4th, 2nd halfway, 3rd 6 out, pushed along and lost place 3 out, soon no extra
Kemboy won this in 2018 and DELTA WORK last year. They met again in the Irish Gold Cup here in February when the latter prevailed by just over a length with Presenting Percy 3 lengths away in third. The trio also faced each other in the Gold Cup when Gordon Elliott's charge again came out best in fifth with Kemboy very close a couple of places behind and Presenting Percy falling when in touch. Paul Townend chooses Allaho of Willie Mullins' quintet and his close third to Champ in the RSA at Cheltenham bears close scrutiny though he was behind Minella Indo that day. He was nowhere near his best on his reappearance in the John Durkan at Punchestown unlike his rival, who hasn't been tested in his two comeback runs and will be a warm order. His stable companion A Plus Tard, a close third to Min in the Ryanair, found 2m too short on his comeback and could snatch a place at a fair price.
A Plus Tard (FR) 1-2fav (12-0) Soon chased leader in 2nd, dropped to 4th from 5 out but well in touch, pushed along to close and challenge before 2 out, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Castlegrace Paddy (11-12) at Navan 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Allaho (FR) 11-4 (11-12) (very poor visibility) mid-division, 5th at 5th, moderate 6th before 3 out, soon no extra, 6th of 7, 33 1/2l behind Min (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leader in moderate 2nd, slight mistakes 5th and 10th, took closer order approaching 11th where slightly slow, pushed along and tight for room after 3 out, soon no impression, 7th of 9, 10 1/4l behind The Storyteller (11-12) at Down Royal 3m (1) Yielding in Oct.
Delta Work (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Waited with, moderate 5th after 6th, slight mistake 8th, took closer order approaching 11th, pushed along briefly from 4 out, effort from next, one pace between last 2, 5th of 9, 6 1/4l behind The Storyteller (11-12) at Down Royal 3m (1) Yielding in Oct.
Easy Game (FR) 10-11fav (11-12) Disputed lead early, soon chased leaders, slight mistake 9th, closed approaching 3 out, soon effort in 2nd, jumped right last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Battleoverdoyen (12-0) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 7-4 (11-12) Soon raced in 2nd, closed before 6th, pushed along into straight, gained narrow lead briefly approaching 2 out, soon headed and pecked slightly, no extra between last 2, one pace, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Notebook (11-12) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Jett (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Led 2nd until 5th, led again next, headed 8th, lost 2nd 10th, chased leaders, 2nd again 11th, mistake 13th (bechers), weakened before 2 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-7) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Kemboy (FR) 11-10fav (11-2) Raced in 2nd, mistake 4 out and soon dropped to 3rd, effort between horses 2 out, pushed along in 2nd between last 2, not match winner from before last and slight mistake, one pace, 2nd of 4, 6 1/2l behind Presenting Percy (11-2) at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) sft in Nov.
Melon 22-1 (11-12) (very poor visibility) tracked leaders, raced keenly, 3rd at 5th, still 3rd and pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no impression on principals before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Min (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Minella Indo (IRE) 2-11fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed briefly 8th and 9th, led 3 out, drew clear after next, kept on well, easily, won at Navan 3m (1) sft in Nov beating Brahma Bull (11-10) by 7 1/2l, 4 ran.
Presenting Percy 3-1 (11-2) Raced in 3rd, closed up from 4 out in 2nd, on terms before 2 out, soon pushed along, went on from before last, stayed on well to assert run-in, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) sft in Nov beating Kemboy (11-2) by 6 1/2l, 4 ran.
Samcro (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Waited with, soon in touch towards rear, closed approaching 3 out where slight mistake, soon effort, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 6 1/4l behind Battleoverdoyen (12-0) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Tornado Flyer (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) (very poor visibility) held up towards rear, 6th at 5th, progress travelling well in 5th 3 out, closing in 4th before next, on terms and travelling best before last, ridden and headed and not match winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Min (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Tout Est Permis (FR) 4-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, 7th at 7th, effort on outer from before straight, one pace 2 out, 5th of 20, 18 3/4l behind Flooring Porter (10-6) at Navan 3m hcp sft in Dec.
