tracked leaders, soon last, inclined to jump slightly left, closed 8th, soon 3rd, 2nd approaching straight, on terms 2 out, soon led and asserted, stayed on well run-in, easily
led, slightly awkward 4th, edged left briefly at road before 8th, mistake 9th and joined, soon headed, on terms 12th, led again before 3 out, joined 2 out, soon headed and no impression, eased run-in
prominent, soon 3rd, last from 8th, detached from 11th, soon no danger
prominent, soon 2nd, slightly impeded before 8th, on terms 9th, soon led, joined 12th, pushed along from 4 out, headed before 3 out, dropped to 3rd approaching straight, no extra from before 2 out, eased
held up in rear, took keen hold, fell 2nd
Gordon Elliott has three runners and looks like continuing his dominance of this event having won the last four renewals. Roi Du Me was responsible for a couple of those successes but last year's winner DON COSSACK is a cut above these. The latter recorded his fourth victory at the highest level when claiming the Gold Cup here in April and will start a short-price for this. Elliott also runs Bright New Dawn but Cailin Annamh arrive in better form having picked-up a Grade 2 chase at Gowran earlier in the month while Aranhill Chief looks outmatched in this company.
Don Cossack (GER) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up in mid-division, 6th halfway, 7th and hampered 11th, closer in 5th 4 out, close 3rd next, ridden to dispute 2 out, edged ahead last, kept on strongly run-in to assert, won at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Djakadam (11-10) by 7l, 8 ran.
Roi Du Mee (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Disputed lead early, soon raced in 2nd, not fluent 4th, led briefly 5th, pushed along approaching straight, soon on terms, headed 3 out, no impression next, eased close home and just held on for 2nd,, 2nd of 5, 15l behind On His Own (11-10) at Cork 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Aranhill Chief (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Pecked slightly 1st, close up and disputed lead, pecked slightly 7th, led before 3 out, not fluent last, soon headed and kept on without matching winner,, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Valours Minion (10-6) at Navan 2m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
Cailin Annamh (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Soon led, very bad mistake 6th, soon headed, prominent, not fluent 7th, 3rd 4 out, mistake next, challenged from last, gained narrow lead on inner and stayed on best closing stages, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) gd in Oct beating Alelchi Inois (11-8) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Mid-division, progress into 6th 5 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, 8th of 18, 34 1/4l behind Ballyadam Approach (9-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
