settled 3rd off pace, not fluent at 3rd, 4th at 5th, disputed 3rd 2 out where slight mistake, pushed along after 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to 2nd without threatening winner
held up 4th off pace, closer in 3rd at 5th, disputed 3rd 2 out, pushed along after 2 out, pecked after last, ridden and kept on same pace
led, narrowly headed 2 out, pushed along, not fluent at last, kept on one pace, dropped to 4th run-in
tracked leader in 2nd, travelled well to narrowly lead 2 out, not fluent at last, driven to assert, kept on strongly
The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Punchestown in May holds the key to this and MOSCOW MANNON is weighted to come out on top. Henry De Bromhead's charge produced an outstanding effort to finish half-a-length behind God's Own at the Festival with Felix Yonger three lengths behind in fourth off level weights. The latter now has to concede 10lb which looks beyond him while Mount Colah, who beat the selection narrowly at Leopardstown in March, has it all to do on 9lb worse terms. Ludo Et Emergo was a distance behind the selection at Naas in February while Kates Benefit ran poorly when stepped up in grade.
Felix Yonger (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up, soon raced in 5th, progress and wide straight, kept on one pace from before last, 4th of 8, 4l behind God's Own (11-10) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) in May.
Mount Colah (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Prominent, lost place 5 out, behind and jumped left 3 out, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Mallowney (11-4) at Punchestown 2m hcap ch in May, 16 ran.
Ludo Et Emergo (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Made all, asserted 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Limerick 2m 1f beg chase in Apr beating The Crafty Butcher (11-12) by 10l, 13 ran.
Moscow Mannon (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, moderate 6th approaching straight, ridden to close from 2 out, every chance and not fluent last, soon 3rd, stayed on well closing stages into 2nd, not get to winner, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind God's Own (11-10) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 (1) in May.
Kates Benefit (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leader in 2nd, led 4th, joined 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon no extra and weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Une Artiste (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1) in Apr, 12 ran.
