pressed leader, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened next
led, jumped right 1st, pushed along and joined 2 out, headed run in, kept on but no chance with easy winner
close up, tracked leaders 10th, joined leader 2 out, shaken up to lead run in, easy
raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace
close up in rear, hit 9th, slow 12th, outpaced 4 out, not trouble leaders
A potentially informative novice chase. Kilbeg King won a valuable handicap over timber at the Punchestown Festival in April and is a nice prospect. The mare Get A Tonic won three times over the smaller obstacles and Golden Son won a Grade 2 in France and was second on his chasing bow, though that was in April of last year and several of Paul Nicholls’ team have been needing their first run this term. IROKO (NAP) developed into a useful hurdler last season over this sort of trip. He won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in March and was third in a Grade 1 over 3m at Aintree so could be one to follow over fences this season. Former pointers Ballymackie and Ballydesmond are likely to find this company too hot.
Ballymackie (IRE) 4-7 (12-2) Rcd 5th, brfly drpd to 4th 3out, went 2nd aftr 2out, rdn & jnd ldr early str, qckr over last, kow flat, won at Loughanmore 3m Yielding - Soft in Apr beating Golden De Coeur (12-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Golden Son (FR) (10-7) 2nd of 6, 12l behind Altesse Du Berlais (11-0) at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Apr.
Iroko (FR) 5-1 (11-8) Prominent, still travelling okay 3 out, soon driven, 3 lengths down 2 out, 4 lengths down approaching last, stayed on into 3rd near finish, 3rd of 15, 3 1/4l behind Apple Away (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Kilbeg King (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, improved into 3rd entering straight, not clear run and came between horses to challenge early straight, ridden to lead before last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Lets Go Champ (10-9) by 4 1/2l, 25 ran.
Get A Tonic (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, pushed along 3 out, 4th and no extra 2 out, 5th of 7, 15 1/4l behind Sabrina (10-13) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Ballydesmond (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders on outer, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 7f mdn Yielding in May beating Focus Point (12-0) by 9l, 10 ran.
