held up mid-division in touch, headway on outside 3 out, effort next, led narrowly and came towards stands side between last 2, headed when switched left before last, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with front pair flat
tracked leaders, driven 2 out, ridden and one pace before last, soon no impression
tracked leader, lost place 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division in touch, ridden after 2 out, never able to challenge
held up towards rear, steady headway after 3 out, tracked leaders next, driven to lead narrowly approaching last, soon ridden, kept on well flat, in command towards finish
led, not fluent 7th, mistake next, ridden after 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened last
tracked leaders, went 2nd and challenged 2 out, soon ridden, lost place before last, weakened flat
raced keenly, held up in last pair, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, weakened last
held up in last pair, driven before 2 out, stayed on into 4th before last, kept on, never troubled leaders
raced keenly, held up towards rear, switched outside 2 out, soon tracked leaders, squeezed through between rivals to challenge before last, ridden and every chance flat, no extra and held final 50 yards
Quevega has been declared again after Tuesday's record-breaking heroics. She is a Grade 1 winner over this trip so couldn't be ignored in the unlikely event of lining up but Ruby Walsh has committed to the equally prolific ANNIE POWER. The trip is a step into the unknown for Willie Mullins' unbeaten mare but she certainly wasn't stopping over 2m5f here in January when quickening clear of the luckless Zarkandar. It's significant that she's been aimed at this rather than shorter options and she can end Big Buck's hopes of a fifth stayers' crown. Paul Nicholls' 11-year-old made a perfectly respectable return from injury here in January, however, and won't go down without a fight though he'll have to rewrite the history books again if he is to get back to winning ways today. His stable have four entries with tough front-runner Celestial Halo also respected but the ground has turned against At Fishers Cross, who hinted at a revival last time, while Reve de Sivola also needs the mud. More Of That is improving and beat Salubrious over 2m5f here in December but this is his toughest task to date and Mala Beach, Medinas and Rule The World are unlikely to be good enough.
At Fishers Cross (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair, headway after 3 out, close up next, challenged on inside approaching last, soon ridden, stayed on and every chance towards finish, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Knockara Beau (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Big Buck's (FR) 6-5fav (11-8) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 9th, soon challenged, led after 3 out, ridden and hard pressed last, kept on, headed final 50 yards, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1l behind Knockara Beau (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 6-5fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Seeyouatmidnight (11-6) at Haydock 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Medinas (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Not fluent, held up in 4th, jumped slowly and ridden 6th, ridden approaching 8th, outpaced after 4 out, went 3rd between last 2, went poor 2nd and mistake last, never any chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Celestial Halo (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov.
More Of That (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd after next, mistake 2 out, closed before last, led flat, readily, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gd in Dec beating Salubrious (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Held up in 4th, headway into 3rd 3 out, close up next, driven and effort approaching last, soon one pace, 4th and beaten flat, 4th of 6, 8l behind Knockara Beau (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Rule The World 5-4fav (11-8) Made all, clear from 5 out, reduced lead straight, clear again approaching last where not fluent, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Naas 2m 3f hdl Gr3 (1) sft in Jan beating Jennies Jewel (10-10) by 8l, 6 ran.
Salubrious (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in 5th, closer order approaching 8th, 3rd travelling well before 2 out, closing in 2nd when blundered and stumbled on landing 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd when switched right before last, left modest 2nd at the last, not recover, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Reve De Sivola (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl G1 (1) sft in Dec.
Zarkandar (IRE) 11-10 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd and stepped at 4th, led before 2 out, driven last, hung left flat, headed and bumped final 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Melodic Rendezvous (11-10) at Wincanton 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Annie Power (IRE) 1-6fav (11-5) Made all, clear before and not fluent last, stayed on strongly, won at Doncaster 2m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan beating Doyly Carte (11-5) by 15l, 5 ran.
Mala Beach (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Chased leader in 2nd, closer before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to challenge after 2 out, led before last, kept on well closing stages, won at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) in Jan beating Un Beau Matin (11-3) by 8l, 8 ran.
Quevega (FR) 8-11fav (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway 2 out, soon driven to chase leading pair, went 2nd and ridden before last, challenged flat, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs beating Glens Melody (11-5) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
