towards rear, stayed on from 4 out, never in contention
mid-division, struggling 16th, soon pulled up
led, headed home turn, pushed along before 4 out, gradually faded
mid-division, ridden home turn and soon beaten, fell 3 out
towards rear, ridden and some headway before 4 out, kept on one pace, never threatened
tracked front group, pushed along and left in 3rd 4 out, went clear with winner before 2 out, stayed on well, closing at finish but always held
in rear, always behind and pulled before 4 out
in rear, ridden 16th, soon tailed off
towards rear, pushed along after 13th, tailed off
close up, bad mistake 14th, lost place quickly and struggling thereafter, pulled up
rear mid-division, ridden before 5 out, weakened before 4 out, pulled up
prominent early, fell 13th in mid-division
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th (water), pressing leader when fell 4 out
towards rear, pushed along 16th, soon beaten, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 14th, pushed along before 4 out, hit 4 out, ridden before 3 out, gradually faded
mid-division, headway into 6th before 4 out, ridden 3 out, mistake 3 out, no extra
handy, led home turn, pressed 4 out, left in clear lead after 4 out, shaken up before 2 out, pressed and ridden before last, stayed on well, always doing enough
mid-division, plugged on from 4 out, never involved
mistake 1st in rear, headway into mid-division 12th, ridden after 5 out, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden 12th, hampered by faller 13th, struggling from 14th, pulled up before 4 out
in rear, bad mistake 10th, ridden before 13th, soon struggling, pulled up before 16th
Munster National winner Ontheropes has attracted ante-post support and heads a strong Willie Mullins team which also includes Annamix and Brahma Bull, who were second and third behind Galvin in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last month. Henry De Bromhead sends over Wexford Listed winner Eklat De Rire, whose only defeat over fences so far came when he unseated his rider in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham last season when Fiddlerontheroof finished second. CLOTH CAP is 18lb higher than when making all in this last year but this season’s campaign has followed an identical path and he might just become to the first chaser to win this back-to-back since the great Arkle in 1965 if he gets his own way out in front again. Potterman, Mister Malarky and Danny Whizzbang all failed to complete 12 months ago but The Hollow Ginge finished fourth and could go well at a price. Cloudy Glen is quirky but a strong stayer but Enrilo looks a bigger danger, though is closely matched with Potterman and Kitty's Light on their run together at Sandown in April. Fortescue is preferred to Remastered and Demachine of the others.
Brahma Bull (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Led early, joined from 3rd, headed 11th, dropped to 3rd and ridden entering straight, no impression on leaders from 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Galvin (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) gd in Oct.
Eklat De Rire (FR) 10-11fav (11-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, led after 2nd, soon headed, led before 8th where jumped left, not fluent 4 out, asserted before last, kept on, comfortably, won at Wexford 2m 7f lst (1) hvy in Oct beating Conflated (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Prominent, led after 2nd, not fluent and headed 4 out, led again 3 out, soon headed, 4th and beaten last, no extra, 4th of 11, 15 1/2l behind Definite Plan (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Annamix (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leader in 2nd early, disputed lead from 3rd, slight mistake 10th, slight mistake 13th, led from next, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, joined before last, slight mistake at last and soon headed, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Galvin (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) gd in Oct.
Ontheropes (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, progress to 3rd after 9th, 6th 3 out, travelled well to lead before 2 out, joined after 2 out, ridden to lead at last, kept on well run-in, won at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct beating A Wave Of The Sea (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Handy throughout, pressed leaders 3 out, disputed lead after 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and stayed on stoutly to assert 110 yards out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Oct beating Pay The Piper (10-10) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Kitty's Light 11-1 (11-0) Raced in last, mistake 14th, ridden in rear home turn, left in fourth 3 out, stayed on well towards finish, 2nd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Fusil Raffles (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) gs in Oct.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden 5 out, pressed leader and not fluent 3 out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Chirico Vallis (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Mister Malarky 20-1 (11-5) Soon off the pace towards rear, plugged on run-in, never on terms, 5th of 14, 36l behind Larry (10-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Copperhead 40-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last 2, 15th of 22, 19 1/4l behind Mrs Milner (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Potterman 11-1 (11-10) Mid-division, modest headway on outside 15th, chased leaders when ridden 3 out, close up 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Rocco (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Enrilo (FR) 7-2fav (11-5) Always prominent on inside, mistake 18th (water), led 4 out, mistake and stumbled badly 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed when edged left run-in, hung badly left towards finish, all out, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Potterman (11-9) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Remastered 9-2 (10-10) Led 1st, not fluent 9th, hard pressed from 2 out, headed flat, 3rd and headed towards finish, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Koshari (11-12) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Canelo (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 4 out, no impression when hampered 3 out, 7th of 14, 27 1/2l behind Snow Leopardess (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 14th, challenged 3 out, soon led, 3 lengths clear 2 out, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, hd behind Definite Plan (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Demachine (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up in touch, headway out wide tracking leaders 13th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged and every chance next, looked held when went left and hit last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Remastered (11-0) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Cloudy Glen (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Always behind, pulled up before 11th, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Fortescue 4-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, pressed leader before 2 out, ridden and every chance before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind Empire De Maulde (10-5) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Full Back (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 20 1/2l behind Chirico Vallis (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
One More Fleurie (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Led until 4th, chased leader who soon went clear, lost 2nd at 12th, weakened next, behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 14, dist behind Larry (10-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, awkward 13th, headed narrowly 15th, led 17th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 21 1/2l behind Coup De Pinceau (11-3) at Taunton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
