held up, mainly 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, ridden in rear before straight and no impression, moderate 3rd entering straight
led early, headed 1st and chased leader in 2nd, ridden entering straight, stayed on to challenge 2 out, soon led, mistake last, kept on well run-in to assert
held up, mainly rear, ridden in 3rd before straight and no impression, rear and weakened entering straight, pulled up before 2 out
led 1st, mistake 7th, ridden and pressed 2 out, soon headed, under pressure in 2nd and slight mistake last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
Gordon Elliott had the winner of this last year and he’ll be hoping Clarcam can follow suit. He’s faced some stiff tasks since recording a double at Killarney and Down Royal in the summer and is rated 32lb higher than Archie Meade and 21lb higher than Upazo, who has not really lived up to expectations over fences and hasn’t raced since pulled up at Cork in October. VAL DE FERBET won a Grade 2 over fences back in 2015. He’s only raced over the larger obstacles twice since but got back to winning ways over hurdles at Limerick in December and gets a handy 5lb from his rivals in this.
Archie Meade (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, dropped towards rear before 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 8th of 10, dist behind Shannak (10-10) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp sft in Jan.
Clarcam (FR) 40-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, some progress approaching straight, pushed along in 8th 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 9th of 18, 24 1/4l behind Champagne West (11-7) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Upazo (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, 5th from 4th, no impression approaching straight, soon eased and pulled up before 2 out, at Cork 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Val De Ferbet (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead after 3 out, pushed along and headed before next, soon left in front and ridden, all out to hold on run-in, won at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec beating Alto Esqua (11-11) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
