chased leaders and 4th from halfway, pushed along from 2 out and improved to challenge on outer before last, soon ridden to lead and kept on well closing stages
mid-division and 7th from halfway, pushed along before 2 out and soon ridden, no impression from before last and kept on same pace run-in
mid-division and 15th from halfway, pushed along from 4 out, ridden and no impression from before 2 out
mid-division and 8th from halfway, took closer order before 2 out and ridden in 4th from last, soon short of room and switch to outer, kept on well to go 2nd close home, not threatening winner
towards rear and 16th from halfway, bad mistake 3 out, pushed along from next, no impression and kept on same pace from last
mid-division, not fluent 3rd and 12th from halfway, progress on inner and squeezed for room before 2 out where not fluent, soon ridden and again not fluent last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders and 3rd from halfway, pushed along to lead from 2 out, headed from last, ridden and weakened run-in
chased leaders and 6th from halfway, pushed along and lost place from 4 out, no extra from before 2 out
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, 19th from halfway, some progress on inner from 3 out and pushed along from next, ridden and switched to outer before last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders on outer and 5th from halfway, pushed along from 2 out and improved to lead from last, soon ridden and headed, no extra and dropped to 3rd close home
soon led, ridden and headed from 2 out, no extra and weakened from last
raced towards rear and pushed along from early, 17th from halfway and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear and in rear from halfway, pushed along from 3 out and soon no impression
mid-division and not fluent 1st, 9th from halfway, took closer order on outer before 2 out and soon ridden, 5th from last and kept on run-in without matching principals
towards rear and 18th from halfway, progress from 2 out and switched to outer before last, ridden run-in and kept on well into 5th, never nearer
mid-division and 14th from halfway, pushed along from 4 out, ridden and no extra from next
mid-division and not fluent 1st, 13th from halfway, mistake 3 out, pushed along and no impression from next
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, 11th from halfway, some progress on outer from 3 out and pushed along before next, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division and 10th from halfway, pushed along and some progress from 2 out, ridden in 5th after last, no extra and dropped to 6th close home
mid-division early, soon improved on outer to chase leaders, 2nd from halfway, almost on terms from 2 out and soon ridden, weakened and no extra from before last
Aramon produced a tremendous weight-carrying performance in this last year to give Willie Mullins a third win in the race in five years. The master handler has three entered this year with Paul Townend partnering Ciel De Neige, who was second at Punchestown Festival in May and is now tried in blinkers. Tudor City races off the same mark as when successful in 2019 and Tony Martin is another trainer who has a good record in this. Milkwood, winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle in the spring, has travelled over from the UK and he is weighted to reverse Cheltenham form with Belfast Banter. Four of these are carrying the McManus colours with Winner Takes Itall impressive at Bellewstown but MAGIC TRICKS should also be in the firing-line having had a pipe-opener on the Flat. He was unlucky not to beat Hearts Are Trumps at Fairyhouse in April and is slightly better off at the weights with first-time cheekpieces also applied. Cape Gentleman was a smart novice last season and arrives in good form having finished fifth in the Ascot Stakes last month.
Saldier (FR) 15-8fav (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Amtiyaz (9-1) at Ascot 1m 6f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Sole Pretender (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Prominent, raced towards outer, led 1st, soon headed and raced in 2nd, disputed at times, led approaching 4 out, under pressure from 2 out, strongly pressed and stayed on well run-in, won at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Jul beating Darasso (11-3) by 2l, 8 ran.
Embittered (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Soon tracked leaders, 4th approaching halfway, soon headway into 2nd, pushed along from 3 out, no impression from before last, one pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Raya Time (12-0) at Wexford 2m gd in Jul.
Milkwood (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, led last, quickened clear flat, won at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr beating Anna Bunina (10-13) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Belfast Banter (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, challenged going well 2 from 2 out, led before last, ridden out, won at Aintree 2m (1) gs in Apr beating Do Your Job (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Burning Victory (FR) (10-11) won at Lyon-Parilly 2m 1f hcp gs in Jun beating Frimousse Baie (9-13) by 5 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Soon chased leaders, slightly impeded after 2 out, challenged and on terms approaching last, soon led, kept on well run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 24, 1/2l behind Koshari (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Annexation (FR) 15-2 (11-9) Led early, headed and checked briefly after 2nd, pushed along and dropped to 3rd briefly 2 out, ridden in 2nd before last, improved to lead at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Kilbeggan 2m hcp gd in Jun beating Golden Jewel (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Call Me Lyreen (IRE) 22-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 2 out, not clear run early straight and switched left in 6th before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, just failed, 2nd of 24, shd behind Jazzaway (10-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Apr.
Cape Gentleman (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Towards rear, headway entering final 2f out, nearest finish, 5th of 19, 3 3/4l behind Reshoun (9-7) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Hannon (IRE) 18-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden to challenge after next, almost on terms 2 out, every chance in close 2nd at last, stayed on well run-in, not match winner close home, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Jesse Evans (11-5) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding in May.
Skyace (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Waited with towards rear, fell 2nd, at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Thosedaysaregone (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Rear of mid-division, headway into 8th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 30 1/4l behind Winner Takes Itall (10-3) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Jesse Evans (IRE) 5-6fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, ran freely, progress to dispute halfway, 6 lengths clear of remainder with one rival 5f out, pushed along and no impression 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra, 4th of 11, 8 3/4l behind Monas Melody (11-9) at Killarney 1m 6f mdn gd in Jul.
Tudor City (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, went 2nd and pushed along 1 1/2f out, soon ridden and 3rd 150 yards out, no extra, 4th of 7, 4l behind Chiricahua (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gd in Jul.
Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 9-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along after 4 out and no impression early straight, ridden and no extra between final 2, kept on one pace run-in, 11th of 20, 11 1/4l behind Hearts Are Trumps (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding in Apr.
Zoffanien (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Towards rear, 17th halfway, headway over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, weakened under 1f out, 11th of 19, 11 1/2l behind Coltor (11-0) at Galway 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul.
Magic Tricks (FR) 11-4 (12-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd over 2f out, pushed along in 2nd over 1f out, ridden and no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Monas Melody (11-9) at Killarney 1m 6f mdn gd in Jul.
Winner Takes Itall (FR) 6-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway into 3rd 4 out, improved to lead travelling well after 3 out, pushed along and clear after 2 out, eased inside final furlong, easily, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul beating Wouldn't You Agree (10-0) by 4 1/4l, 15 ran.
Hearts Are Trumps (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Soon chased leaders and off pace in 4th, no extra from after 3 out, last of 8, dist behind Sole Pretender (11-3) at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Jul.
Band of Outlaws (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Waited with, off pace in 5th after 4th, never a factor, 6th of 8, dist behind Sole Pretender (11-3) at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Jul.
