prominent and led after 5th, hampered by loose horse after 11th, headed approaching 2 out, no extra before last
tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, pushed along after 2 out and 3rd before last, no extra run-in
prominent, 3rd halfway, slow 9th, pushed along 3 out and 4th next, soon no extra and pulled up before last
mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along on inner 2 out and went 4th last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace
tracked leaders when mistake and unseated rider 1st
mid-division, 7th halfway, short of room and mistake 3 out, no impression when slight mistake next, no extra and pulled up before last
rear of mid-division, progress 5 out, headway and brought wide to lead approaching 2 out, under pressure and kept on well run-in
rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, no extra after 3 out, behind and pulled up before last
mid-division, progress before 4 out, pushed along in 6th 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, mistake 3 out, went 2nd before next, soon ridden, under pressure and kept on run-in, no impression on winner close home
always towards rear, mistake 10th, no impression 5 out, behind and pulled up before 2 out
always rear, detached when slow 9th, no impression 5 out, pushed along and no extra before 3 out, pulled up before last
prominent, disputed briefly 4th, tracked leader when mistake and unseated rider 8th
prominent and led after 5th, hampered by loose horse after 11th, headed approaching 2 out, no extra before last
towards rear, mistake 7th, some progress and mistake 11th, mistake 4 out, ridden in 9th 2 out, soon no extra, weakened, tailed off
led, headed 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened, eased, completely tailed off
towards rear, never a factor, no extra after 11th and pulled up before next
tracked leaders, 8th halfway, mistake 10th, no extra after 4 out, weakened, pulled up before 2 out
This is always one of the toughest races of the season to win. Folsom Blue bounced back to winning ways for Mouse Morris at Navan and is still on a fair mark while the stable also run Thunder And Roses, the 2015 Irish National winner, though he hasn't won since and is still 10lb higher. Ucello Conti hasn't won since arriving from France but he's been competing with credit in all the big handicaps and will be winning one of them before too long. Sambremont and Bonny Kate occupied the places in the 3m4f Grand National Handicap Trial at Punchestown though neither looked like winning. That's top form in the context of this race and both are greatly respected. ABOLITIONIST is very consistent at this level and had Bonny Kate behind when runner-up in the Troytown at Navan in November. He hasn't run since but will be fresher than most and gets the vote with Rachael Blackmore's claim a bonus once again.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Soon prominent and led before 3rd, quickly joined, led again 5 out, pressed run-in, headed and kept on well without quite matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Pleasant Company (11-0) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f (1) hvy in Feb.
Ucello Conti (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Mid-division, progress in 4th 4 out and went 2nd before next, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 18, 7 1/2l behind Champagne West (11-7) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Bonny Kate (IRE) 3-1fav (10-8) Tracked leader in 2nd for most, moderate 2nd halfway and clear of remainder, ridden and no impression on winner from 2 out, dropped to 3rd and no extra close home, 3rd of 15, 5 1/4l behind Baie Des Iles (10-11) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp sft in Feb.
Sumos Novios (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 3rd at 7th, slightly slow 11th, 2nd approaching straight, on terms 2 out, headed approaching last where no extra and not fluent, 4th of 8, 12l behind Texas Jack (10-11) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Texas Jack (IRE) 9-4fav (12-0) In rear for most, no impression 4 out, no extra and pulled up before next, at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Mar.
Sambremont (FR) 5-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, progress into moderate 4th 6 out, ridden in moderate 3rd 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 15, 4 3/4l behind Baie Des Iles (10-11) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp sft in Feb.
Abolitionist (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Rear of mid-division, headway into 10th 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd next, no impression on winner in 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 25, 4l behind Empire Of Dirt (11-8) at Navan 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Rightdownthemiddle (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway after halfway, 5th 4 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, moderate 2nd at last, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 15l behind Mad Brian (11-3) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Space Cadet (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, progress into 6th 5 out, closer entering straight, disputed before 2 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Edwulf (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Folsom Blue (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, slightly slow 2nd, mistake 5th, slight mistake 7th, 5th from 8th, slightly slow 10th, dropped to last at 12th, went distant 4th into straight, ridden and good headway to lead at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Mar beating Canaly (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Vent De La Cote (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 5th halfway, some progress on inner entering straight and went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no impression run-in, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind Westerners Son (10-13) at Naas 2m hcp sft in Feb.
Undressed (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Always behind, weakened from 5 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Kilford (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Led and disputed, mistake 8th, slightly slow 10th, headed last and mistake, no extra, 4th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Folsom Blue (11-2) at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Mar.
Georges Conn (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up, bad mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Fairyhouse 3m 1f (1) hvy in Feb.
Archie Meade (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 10th of 15, dist behind Perfect Man (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp hvy in Feb.
Futuramic (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Soon tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no impression from next, 4th of 13, 18 1/4l behind Mad Brian (11-3) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Fair Return 9-1 (11-0) Held up, towards rear and inclined to jump right, slight mistake 6th, pushed along 8th, not fluent 2 out, 9th approaching straight, no extra and jumped right again last, 9th of 11, 16 3/4l behind Elusive Ivy (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp gd in Jan.
After Aspen (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Mid-division, slight mistake 6th, closer and chased leaders from next, bad mistake 10th, soon pulled up, at Naas 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Sizing Coal (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Always behind, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
