chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, under pressure in 2nd and 2 lengths down when fell last
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3 out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, left 3rd last
chased leaders early, 5th halfway, weakened to rear before 4 out, completely tailed off
settled behind leaders, bad mistake 5th, 6th halfway, 5th 4 out, ridden next, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, left 4th last
held up in rear, mistake 6th, 6th 4 out, ridden and no impression next
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no extra, 3rd before last, left 2nd
chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight, led 2 out, kept on well from before last, left clear last
RAPTOR has rarely run on anything but ground with plenty of give though he was still in touch when falling in the Grade 1 Fort Leney at Leopardstown in December on good going. He looks the one to be on providing conditions aren't too quick and the 4lb he receives from Slieveardagh will help. Edward O'Grady's charge has won four times over fences but his close second to First Lieutenant in a Grade 3 at Tipperary in October was his best run to date. Schelm was beaten into fourth in this a year ago and this doesn't look any easier while Lenabane has only won once in 14 starts over fences and that was on very heavy going.
Slieveardagh (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders mainly 3rd, ridden entering straight and soon no impression on winner, left 2nd after last, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Lambro (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 2f chs sft.
I Hear A Symphony (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and no impression 4 out, 10th of 15, 44l behind Any Bets (9-3) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gd.
Lenabane (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Raced in 2nd, 3rd 7 out, dropped last of the 4 and no extra from 5 out, last of 4, well behind Sizing Europe (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs G2 (1) sft in Oct.
Schelm (GER) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, well off pace, not fluent 5th, no impression from 4 out, 4th of 6, 32l behind Shot From The Hip (10-13) at Killarney 2m 4f chs gd.
See U Bob (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leader in 3rd, some mistakes, no extra from 2 out, weakened, 5th of 10, well behind Un Hinged (10-1) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs sft.
Uncle Tom Cobley (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Chased leader in 2nd, headway to dispute 6 out, headed 4 out until led 2 out, soon ridden and headed approaching last, no impression in 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Un Hinged (10-1) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs sft, 10 ran.
Raptor (FR) 5-2fav (10-10) Mid-division, 5th entering straight, ridden and headway to dispute approaching last where mistake, led narrowly under pressure run-in, headed on line, 2nd of 10, ns behind Un Hinged (10-1) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs sft.
Devil's Elbow 3-1fav (11-5) Settled mid-division, 7th halfway, headway into 4th 3 out, 3rd 2 out, ridden to challenge last, soon led and kept on strongly run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chase gf beating El Fontan (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
