chased leader in 2nd, 3rd 3f out, soon ridden, 5th 2f out, weakened
in rear, checked on inner 2 1/2f out, ridden under 2f out, 7th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, never nearer
mid-division, closer in 4th 3f out, soon ridden, 6th 1f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened
in rear, short of room over 2f out, switched and pushed along under 2f out, headway into 3rd and ridden 1f out, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
mid-division, checked 2f out, soon ridden, 8th 1f out, no extra
mid-division, 11th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression
rear of mid-division on outer, no impression from 2f out, never a factor
chased leaders, led 3f out, ridden and joined 2f out, soon headed, no impression from 1 1/2f out
in rear, headway into 7th on outer 2f out, soon ridden, improved into 2nd 1f out, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, no extra
mid-division, 7th 3f out, ridden in 9th 2f out, no impression
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened
mid-division, short of room briefly 2f out, soon pushed along, ridden and kept on without threatening final furlong, never nearer
chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened
rear of mid-division, progress on outer into 5th 3f out, led travelling well under 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
towards rear, headway 4f out, 6th 3f out, improved to dispute lead briefly 2f out, soon ridden and headed, 4th 1f out, no impression
led, ridden and headed 3f out, no impression from 2f out
Not surprisingly most of these are jumpers and the easier ground conditions will be welcomed. DALTON HIGHWAY is the only course and distance winner in the line-up having won here in May then almost following up at the Galway Festival. He beat a big field of hurdles in a Leopardstown Handicap in December and gets the nod with Andrew Slattery's claim a real bonus. Willie Mullins has five entries with Grade 1 winning hurdler and Champion Hurdle runner-up Sharjah probably the pick though Jon Snow is lightly-raced for his age and has more scope than most of these. De Name Escapes Me may prove best of Noel Meade's trio while Grandmaster Flash was running well on the all-weather at the backend of last year and Buckman Tavern has moved from Sir Mark Prescott to Tony Martin on what may prove a fair mark.
King's Vow (FR) 14-1 (9-11) Towards rear and pushed along early, soon headway into mid-division on outer, 8th halfway, pushed along entering straight, ridden 2f out and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 17, 8 1/2l behind Edification (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
Sharjah (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway going well after 2 out, switched right before last, went 2nd flat, edged left, stayed on, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Epatante (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Lorelina 33-1 (9-12) Close up and disputed lead briefly early, soon chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost place and no impression, 9th of 10, 18 1/2l behind King's Vow (9-9) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Jan.
Presto 3-1fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, headway entering straight and 2nd 2f out, ridden and dropped to 4th 150 yards out, no extra, 4th of 16, 3 3/4l behind Mutadaffeq (9-3) at Curragh 2m hcp gf in Jun.
Zenon (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Towards rear, some headway on inner entering straight, soon pushed along and no impression under 2f out, no extra, 13th of 16, 18 1/4l behind Mutadaffeq (9-3) at Curragh 2m hcp gf in Jun.
Dalton Highway (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Mid-division early, 14th at 3rd, impeded at 4th, soon headway and effort straight, led inside final 100yds, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec beating Youngnedofthehill (10-4) by 2 1/2l, 23 ran.
Grandmaster Flash (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Held up in 6th smooth headway over 2f out, led going well over 1f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, hard ridden towards finish, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Pianissimo (8-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Jon Snow (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Made all, ridden clear entering straight, reduced advantage inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f mdn sft in Mar beating Fakiera (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 20 ran.
Golden Spear 33-1 (10-9) Towards rear, progress into 13th on inner bypassing 2 out, no impression, 15th of 22, 15 1/2l behind Thosedaysaregone (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Harriet Tubman (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Mid-division, pushed along early straight and no not clear run briefly 2f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Mutadaffeq (9-3) at Curragh 2m hcp gf in Jun.
Lynwood Gold (IRE) 7-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and ridden 2f out, no impression in 6th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 17, 6 1/4l behind Edification (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
Buckman Tavern (FR) 7-2 (8-13) Led, headed over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Starczewski (8-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Aug.
Legal Spin (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) A little slow into stride and pushed along briefly, waited with, 12th approaching halfway, headway and effort straight, no extra over 1f out, 14th of 16, 21 3/4l behind Jukebox Jive (8-5) at Naas 1m 6f hcp hvy in Nov.
Dinard Rose (IRE) 4-1fav (10-9) Prominent, 4th after 5th, closed up approaching 7th where a little slow, lost position from before straight, no extra and pulled up between last 2, at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Conron (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inside, held up towards rear from 4th, hit 2 out, soon outpaced, ridden and weakened flat, 9th of 10, 14l behind Jatiluwih (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
De Name Escapes Me (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 9th 3 out, no impression, never a factor, 13th of 28, 32 1/2l behind Treacysenniscorthy (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Harvest Bow (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Soon mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, closed before straight, effort in 3rd on outer 2 out, challenged and every chance when pecked badly last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Thereisnodoubt (11-1) at Navan 2m hcp hvy in Mar.
Romantically (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well final furlong, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gd in Jun beating Tonkinese (10-1) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Bronagh's Belle (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Dwelt, in rear, headway and switched left from 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace without threatening, 7th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Irradiate (8-9) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Nov.
Mokhles (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Rear of mid-division, took keen hold and headway on outer to chase leaders at halfway, ridden entering straight, weakened, last of 15, dist behind Lalipour (8-6) at Navan 1m 5f hcp sft in Jun.
Eight And Bob 28-1 (11-1) Mid-division early, not always fluent jumping, 12th from 5th, no extra approaching 2 out, 20th of 25, dist behind Treacysenniscorthy (9-12) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
