in touch behind leaders, slightly hampered 6th, mistake next (water), outpaced after jumping right 4 out, went 3rd on home turn after 3 out, jumped right 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leader until before 3rd, stayed prominent, left 2nd 6th until 9th, challenging 3 out, no impression on winner next, edged right after last, lost 2nd 150 yards, no extra
held up in mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd 9th, led 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, easily
held up in rear, mistake and unseated rider 4th
held up towards rear, some headway 8th, shaken up before 3 out, no impression and soon well beaten
tracked leaders on inside, hampered and unseated rider 6th
held up towards rear on outside, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headway to chase leader before 3rd, challenging 5th, left in lead next, headed 3 out, well beaten 4th 2 out, weakened after
rear group, last and struggling 5th, well behind 9th, pulled up before 4 out
led, joined when fell 6th
not always fluent, tracked leaders and raced keenly early stages, mistake 6th, slightly hampered 4 out, outpaced after, weakened 2 out
in touch until before 3rd, hampered 6th, well behind from 9th
held up in rear, pecked 1st, not fluent 4 out, ridden in modest 7th before 3 out, headway 2 out, went 2nd final 150 yards, no chance with winner
KALASHNIKOV, just caught in last year’s Supreme Novices’, failed to land the odds in the Wayward Lad at Kempton and was then trounced by the fast-improving Glen Forsa in the Kingmaker at Sandown so has a bit to prove now. But much better is expected back here and recent rain is a massive plus for Amy Murphy’s stable star, who may be some value. Mick Channon’s charge also goes on the short-list as does Paloma Blue, who only won a beginners’ event at Leopardstown but ran well at The Festival 12 months ago and has more scope than stable companion Ornua. Lalor finished behind the latter at Sandown last time but is better judged on an earlier victory over this course and distance when he jumped like an old hand. Two of Duc De Genievres’ three runs over fences have been over further but he’s a strong traveller and the likely strong pace should play to his strengths so he could well follow up a very easy win at Gowran last month.
Articulum (IRE) Evens (11-2) Made all, not fluent 7th but otherwise jumped well, ridden 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m Good - Yielding in Jan beating Campeador (11-8) by 7 1/2l, 3 ran.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 8-11fav (11-8) Made all, hit 3rd, clear 3 out, jumped left and not fluent 2 out, went left last, unchallenged, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Peppay Le Pugh (11-1) by 12l, 4 ran.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) 11-10fav (11-12) Made all, soon clear, reduced advantage briefly entering straight, went well clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, not extended, very easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Feb beating Tower Bridge (11-12) by 15l, 17 ran.
Glen Forsa (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Jumped well and always travelling well, made all, clear from 3 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Feb beating Kalashnikov (11-0) by 19l, 3 ran.
Hardline (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up disputing 5th, dropped to last and off pace at halfway, pushed along in last after 3 out, ridden entering straight, headway into 3rd at last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 5 1/2l behind La Bague Au Roi (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) gd in Feb.
Kalashnikov (IRE) 1-4fav (11-0) Chased winner, pushed along and not fluent 7th (water), hit next, pushed along and no chance with winner before 3 out, finished tired, 2nd of 3, 19l behind Glen Forsa (11-0) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Knocknanuss (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Close up and took keen hold, fell 2nd, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
Lalor (GER) 8-11fav (11-2) Held up, slow 3rd, headway under pressure after 4 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 3rd approaching last, never on terms, 3rd of 6, 11 3/4l behind Dynamite Dollars (11-2) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Ornua (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led, jumped well apart from not fluent 7th, strongly challenged 2 out, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Dynamite Dollars (11-2) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Paloma Blue (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, inclined to jump slightly right, joined 6th, slight mistake 5 out, led again from 4 out, a little slow 3 out and briefly headed, soon back on terms again, left clear from last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f gd in Dec beating Moon Over Germany (11-12) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
Slate House (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up last, jumped slowly 8th, closer in 4th 12th, left in 2nd 2 out, 4 lengths down and no impression last, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Huntsman Son (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4f (3) gs in Mar.
Us And Them (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, left in 2nd from 2nd, slightly slow 4th, on terms briefly 9th, pushed along before straight, soon challenged, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Le Richebourg (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) gd in Feb.
