tracked leader, 3rd halfway, slow 4 out, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, no extra after 2 out
towards rear, slight mistake 1st, 5th 4 out, pushed along after next and 4th 2 out, went moderate 3rd last, kept on one pace
always towards rear, in touch until after 4 out, no extra from next, never a factor
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, 4th and ridden after 3 out, no impression in 5th before next, no extra
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, went 2nd 3 out, pushed along and led entering straight, ridden and kept on well run-in
led, mistake 5 out, pushed along and headed entering straight, ridden and no impression on winner from before last, kept on one pace
BRAID BLUE has won two bumpers and four minor races over hurdles, all on good ground. However, his best run came on his final start on good to soft at Cheltenham when narrowly beaten by Champagne Well, subsequently runner-up in three Grade 2 contests. His stable companion Monkshood, a winning bumper and hurdler, has yet to get going over fences though he's performed in decent company. High Sparrow has a similar record to the latter and is expected to do better this campaign while Castello Sforza put his jumping problems behind with a much improved run at Tramore. Popong has won over hurdles here and will have come on for her opening run over fences at Tipperary and her allowance should see her in the frame.
Braid Blue (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, rallied last, ridden and stayed on to press winner closing stages, just held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Champagne Well (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gs in Oct.
Castello Sforza (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Rear, badly hampered at 1st, moderate 9th at 8th, detached after 12th, good headway before 4 out, 7th before 2 out, progress and ridden after 2 out, 4th at last, kept on to 2nd closing stages, never nearer, 2nd of 12, 4 3/4l behind Waitnsee (11-7) at Tramore 2m 5f gd in Jul.
Minella United 11-1 (12-0) Soon prominent, disputed lead at times from 4th, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 15, 7 1/4l behind In Your Shadow (12-0) at Tipperary 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Jul.
Monkshood (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Waited with, 14th at 4th, soon pushed along briefly between horses, slightly slow at 6th, soon pushed along again, impeded 8th, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out, at Naas 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Peaches And Cream (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, ridden into 8th entering straight, no impression 3 out, kept on one pace from next, 5th of 11, dist behind Knock On Steel (12-0) at Killarney 2m 1f Yielding in Jul.
Roi De Dubai (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, 4th close home, 4th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gd in Jul.
High Sparrow (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, 6th entering straight, no impression, 6th of 16, 32l behind Mary Frances (10-2) at Punchestown 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Popong (IRE) 2-1fav (11-9) Prominent, slight mistake 1st, led briefly from 4th, slight mistake 8th, led from 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, joined before 2 out and slight mistake, soon headed and almost collided with track marker, no extra and one pace from before last, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Dime A Dozen (11-9) at Tipperary 2m 1f Good - Yielding in Jul.
