led, pressed 4 out, joined between last 2, headed before last, soon briefly back on terms, not match winner and one pace closing stages
waited with in rear, closer in 3rd at 6th, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon no impression
tracked leader, 2nd before 4th, pressed leader from before 4 out, on terms between last 2 travelling smoothly, led before last where slight mistake, briefly joined, stayed on well to assert closing stages
tracked leader, 3rd before 4th, slightly slow 5th, dropped to last next, no impression from before straight
Ornua is still carrying a penalty for his victory in the Grade 1 Maghull at Aintree and hasn't been in anything like that form in more testing conditions. He has to concede 7lb to Mengli Khan, another who hasn't been in the best of form though his placed efforts in Grade 3 races at Naas and Gowran put him in the frame. CADMIUM, last year's Topham winner, had been racing in Grade 1 company before a moderate run in a Naas Grade 3 last month where he had Castlegrace Paddy a couple of lengths behind. He should be good enough in what is a very soft Grade 2.
Ornua (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Led, slight mistake 5th and headed, dropped to 3rd at 6th, 4th at 7th, ridden in moderate 5th 3 out, left 4th 2 out, moderate 4th at last, no impression on leaders and went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 27 3/4l behind Chacun Pour Soi (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Cadmium (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Disputed lead early, soon led, joined 2 out, soon headed, no extra run-in, 4th of 5, 15 1/2l behind Any Second Now (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, a little slow at 6th, impeded briefly into straight, pushed along from 2 out in last, not fluent last, no extra run-in, last of 5, 17 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Solar Heat (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression in rear after 3 out, weakened, eased run-in, last of 5, dist behind Cut The Mustard (10-7) at Naas 2m lst (1) Yielding in Feb.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Led, ridden and joined 3f out, headed and dropped to 3rd entering straight, moderate 3rd 1f out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 26 1/2l behind Charli Parcs (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 2f sft in Mar.
