held up in 4th, disputed 3rd from before 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, weakened before last
chased leader in 2nd, ridden and no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on one pace, lost 2nd close home
made all, pushed out briefly to go clear before last, easily
settled 3rd, disputed 3rd from before 3 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd after 2 out, kept on run-in to 2nd close home
held up in rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace behind, moderate 4th last
After beating APPLE'S JADE narrowly on good ground in the Triumph Hurdle, Ivanovich Gorbatov was well and truly put in his place by the runner-up on soft going at Aintree. It was an incredible performance by Willie Mullins' filly, who was having only her fourth start, so with the ground likely to be in her favour again she should have no problems confirming the form. Her stable companion Let's Dance was only fourth at Cheltenham but hadn't been beaten far by Ivanovich Gorbatov on testing ground at Leopardstown in December. Jers Girl was only a head behind the selection on heavy going at that same Leopardstown meeting and bounced back with a stunning victory in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse a month ago. She was fancied for the Champion Novices' here yesterday so that result should be monitored. It's hard to know what to make of Cap D'aubois, a minor winner in France.
Cap D'Aubois (FR) (10-5) won at Cagnes-sur-Mer 2m gs in Dec beating First Vision (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden after 4 out, no impression on winner from 3 out, mistake 2 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, dist behind Apple's Jade (10-7) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Apple's Jade (FR) 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, soon went clear, impressive, won at Aintree 2m 1f (1) sft in Apr beating Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) by dist, 9 ran.
Let's Dance (FR) 11-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, outpaced by front trio approaching last, no impression after, kept on when hard pressed for 4th flat, 4th of 15, 14 1/4l behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Tocororo (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Soon led, clear after 2nd and wandered before next, slight mistake 4th, 12 lengths clear halfway, reduced lead and mistake 3 out, headed before next and no impression in 4th at last, no extra, 4th of 8, 21 1/2l behind Slowmotion (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Jer's Girl (IRE) 3-1fav (10-8) Mid-division, moderate 6th after 3rd, pushed along to dispute 2nd before straight, soon challenged, led approaching 2 out, asserted from between last 2, ridden out and stayed on well run-in, eased close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Mar beating Jessber's Dream (11-7) by 13l, 11 ran.
