tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st and slow 2nd, dropped to rear 10th and detached 12th, no extra approaching straight, weakened, tailed off
towards rear, closer after halfway and 4th 4 out, slight mistake next, ridden and no impression approaching 2 out, kept on one pace into 3rd run-in
led, slow 1st, headed briefly 3rd and again when slow 5th, slow 10th and headed, soon reminders, ridden in 5th and no impression approaching 4 out, soon weakened, eased from 2 out, completely tailed off
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden approaching 2 out and went 2nd before last, under pressure and kept on run-in
towards rear, 4th halfway, 2nd approaching 4 out, pushed along to lead 2 out, soon ridden and jumped left last, under pressure and kept on run-in, held on well
prominent, slow 1st, led briefly 3rd and 5th, led from 10th, pushed along early straight and headed 2 out, no impression in 3rd approaching last, no extra run-in
Any Second Now was having his first start over this sort of trip when an excellent fifth in the Paddy Power and should be losing his maiden tag over fences before long. Blow By Blow made a successful debut over fences at Galway before beaten a neck in a Grade 2 at Punchestown but disappointed at Naas last time. His stable companion CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC was returning from a long break when third in that latter event and should have come on enough to take this. He won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in March and beat Penhill comfortably in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival so should be an exciting prospect for chasing. Chris's Dream also ran in that Naas contest and finished runner-up though he had the benefit of an earlier run on this track and may not be capable of confirming the form with the selection.
Agent Boru (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Rear of mid-division, slightly hampered 10th, ridden 12th, no impression and pulled up before 4 out, at Punchestown 3m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Feb.
Any Second Now (IRE) 5-1fav (11-1) Soon chased leaders, 8th after 7th, slight mistake 8th, soon progress, mistake last and one pace, 5th of 27, 9 3/4l behind Auvergnat (10-5) at Leopardstown 3m gd in Dec.
Blow By Blow (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 2nd at 4th, slight mistake next, 3rd 5 out, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Champagne Classic (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway into 2nd 5 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, dropped to 3rd before last, left 2nd at last, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 12 1/4l behind Ballyward (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Disputed lead early, led from 2nd, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed, no impression in 4th when left 3rd at last. kept on without threatening winner in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Ballyward (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Moonshine Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Disputed lead early, slight mistake and headed at 2nd, dropped to mid-division at 5th, pushed along at 10th, towards rear when mistake 11th, no impression, pulled up before 4 out, at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
