held up in last pair, struggling 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off
with leaders on outside, led 4th, not fluent 6th, headed before 2 out, soon lost place, weakened before last, tailed off
raced keenly, tracked leaders, headway and effort when hit 2 out, one pace approaching last, ridden and kept on under pressure in 3rd flat, not pace to reach leaders
mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 3 out, outpaced after next, ridden and kept on same pace under pressure from last, no impression
mid-division in touch, mistake 4 out, headway and close up on outside next, ridden to chase leaders before last, one pace flat
held up in last pair, headway 3 out, effort on inside after next, soon ridden, went 2nd last, kept on but not pace of winner flat, held when rider dropped whip towards finish
held up in touch, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, one pace last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, no impression
tracked leaders, headway to lead briefly before 2 out, stayed pressing winner between last 2, 1 1/2 lengths down and ridden when blundered badly and lost place last, kept on flat
with leader to 4th, remained in touch, lost place when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led narrowly to 4th, remained prominent, led again 2 out, driven before last, ridden flat, ran on well
This is not generally a race for ex-Flat types which is a black mark against Royal Bond and Deloitte Novice Hurdle winner Nichols Canyon and fellow previous Grade 1 winner Parlour Games. Ruby Walsh rides the former in preference to Outlander, however, and he beat Windsor Park at Leopardstown in the style of a smart performer. Parlour Games just outstayed Vyta Du Roc in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury and that may be the case again here but the latter did have Ordo Ab Chao well behind at Sandown in December and is better off at the weights here. BEAST OF BURDEN (NAP) was also entered in the Albert Bartlett having trotted up over 3m at Bangor on his latest start. But Rebecca Curtis obviously thinks he has the pace for this as he'd also scored easily over 2m previously. This is a big step up in class but he's improving fast and could be ready to make his mark at this level.
Anteros (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Last pair, pushed along and struggling in rear after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, no threat, 6th of 12, 12l behind Invicta Lake (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Jan.
Beast Of Burden (IRE) 15-8 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear 2 out, not fluent last, easily, won at Bangor 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating Mendip Express (11-1) by 11l, 4 ran.
Nichols Canyon 9-2 (11-9) Made virtually all, joined briefly 3 out, asserted early straight and 5 lengths clear before last, kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) in Feb beating Windsor Park (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ordo Ab Chao (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, raced keenly, slightly hampered 2 out, soon made progress, challenged last, led flat, edged right towards finish, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Value At Risk (11-9) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Outlander (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, close 4th 3 out, improved to lead travelling well on inner entering straight, ridden clear at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) in Jan beating Martello Tower (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Parlour Games 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, smooth headway on bit into 3rd before 2 out, challenged last, quickened to lead final 100 yards, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Dec beating Vyta Du Roc (11-7) by nk, 6 ran.
Snow Falcon (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd after 3rd, slight mistake 6th, not fluent 7th, slight mistake 4 out, 4th approaching straight, on terms 3 out travelling smoothly, led soon after 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably,, won at Navan 2m 7f mdn hdl sft in Jan beating Speed Demon (11-12) by 6l, 12 ran.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Held up in 4th, pushed along and went 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead after last, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 6, nk behind Parlour Games (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Warrantor (IRE) 9-2fav (10-6) Took keen hold, held up on inside, headway before 3 out, weakened appproaching next, 7th of 13, 41l behind Tea For Two (9-12) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Windsor Park (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Towards rear, progress into 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Nichols Canyon (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) in Feb.
