tracked leaders in moderate 3rd, ridden in closer 3rd entering straight, dropped to 4th after 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders in moderate 4th, not fluent 2nd, closer 4th entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, went moderate 2nd after last, kept on without threatening winner
always behind, moderate 6th at halfway, last and pushed along after 3 out, soon no impression, went remote 5th after last
led and clear, reduced advantage 4 out, joined briefly 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed 2 out, soon no impression on winner, dropped to moderate 3rd after last, no extra
held up in moderate 5th, pushed along briefly at 2nd, niggled along at 5th, moderate 5th and pushed along entering straight, soon no impression, went moderate 4th after last
tracked leader in 2nd and raced clear of remainder, improved to dispute lead briefly 3 out, close 2nd entering straight, led 2 out and pushed along, soon went clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
always behind, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
Big Blue is the first horse trained in Australia to race over jumps in Ireland and though a regular winner in his native country he was soon beaten in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Mengli Khan and Off You Go are both better known as chasers these days and neither have been in the best of form though the latter generally comes good at this time of year. Sutton Place beat Kemboy over fences at Fairyhouse two years ago but hasn't run since the following month so STORMY IRELAND looks the one to beat. Willie Mullins' mare kept bumping into top-class performers in high-class races before completing a double with a Grade 3 victory at Leopardstown last month.
Big Blue 40-1 (11-7) Held up and always towards rear, weakened and behind 3 out, never involved, soon pulled up, at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Franco De Port (FR) 2-1 (11-3) Led, 2 lengths clear at 5th, soon increased advantage, not fluent at 6th and reduced advantage, pushed along and headed before 2 out where not fluent, weakened, 7th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Soviet Pimpernel (10-13) at Limerick 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Jetez (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led, fell 1st, at Naas 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Prominent, a little keen, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd from 4th, challenged from 3 out, on terms 2 out, soon headed and no extra, one pace, 6th of 15, 19l behind Alfa Mix (9-13) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Off You Go (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, slow jump 5th, 5th halfway, slightly hampered 5 out, ridden and no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 4th of 7, dist behind Faugheen (11-10) at Limerick 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Stormy Ireland (FR) 9-10fav (11-2) Made all and soon clear, reduced advantage before 5th and 5 lengths lead halfway, slight mistake 3 out, travelled well early straight and kept on well from before last, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Dec beating Elfile (11-5) by 5 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sutton Place (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-10) Held up, mistake 1st, mistake 9th, soon no extra and pulled up before 4 out, at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
