led and disputed, ridden and headed when jumped left 2 out, dropped to 3rd and tired at last, weakened run-in, 5th and virtually pulled up close home
led and disputed, mistake 5 out, led travelling well 2 out, soon clear, eased run-in, very easily
held up in last, slow at 3rd and soon off pace, slight mistake 7th, went moderate 5th at 11th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, went remote 3rd after last
tracked leaders disputing 3rd, went 2nd and ridden after 2 out, no impression on winner at last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders disputing 3rd, under pressure 10th, ridden 4 out, remote 4th 2 out, no impression
held up in 5th, mistake 3rd, dropped to last at 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
BILLAWAY has won this for the past two years but has never won first time back so it shouldn't have been too much of a shock when beaten at Thurles last month. Beaten a short-head in the hunters' event at Cheltenham, he's at the head of the market for next month's race and should go there in winning form. Ask D'Man followed a double between the flags by completing a hat-trick in a maiden hunters' at Clonmel over a trip too short while Good Bye Sam, who had form over regulation fences in France, will have needed last month's run between the flags. Se Mo Laoch was a decent enough handicapper back in the day but has been well beaten between the flags recently despite being placed.
Ask D'Man (IRE) 7-4fav (12-2) Led or disputed lead, jumped slightly left, led entering straight and asserted 3 lengths clear when jumped left 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan beating Three Loud Knocks (12-2) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Billaway (IRE) 10-11fav (12-2) Disputed lead early, tracked leader and 2nd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, 4th and slight mistake next, soon pushed along, 2nd and no impression on winner entering straight, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Winged Leader (12-2) at Thurles 3m 1f Good - Yielding in Jan.
Cloudy Tuesday (IRE) 9-4 (12-2) Chsd ldrs & nt fluent, rdn 6out, cl 2nd 3out, mstk 2out, btn in 3rd at last, ko in 2nd late, 2nd of 7, 5l behind La Feline (11-11) at Aghabullogue 3m sft in Jan.
Good Bye Sam (FR) 11-4 (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 3rd from 6th, 4th from 10th, cl 4th aftr 2out, prog bef last, went 2nd cl hm, no impr on wnr, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Qarbatsi (12-2) at Aghabullogue 3m mdn sft in Jan.
Se Mo Laoch (IRE) 6-4 (12-2) Rcd 3rd, 3rd 1/2way, prog to 2nd bef 3out, no ex in 3rd aftr 2out until left mod 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Amaulino (11-11) at Bellharbour 3m in Feb.
Hello Arlene (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out, pushed along and dropped to 4th next, soon weakened and in rear approaching straight, completely tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Winged Leader (12-2) at Thurles 3m 1f Good - Yielding in Jan.
