chased leaders, close up from 8th, 4th 5 out, ridden in 6th 3 out, no extra before next, weakened and pulled up before last
held up, towards rear and slight mistake 11th, progress 3 out, ridden into 6th 2 out, 3rd and no impression on leaders last, kept on same pace
mid-division, fell 5 out
held up, improved to chase leaders at 11th, 4th at 12th, ridden in 6th after 4 out, no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace straight
chased leaders briefly, soon mid-division, towards rear and slight mistake 6th, ridden and no impression after 4 out, weakened
chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute 4 out, soon led, slight mistake 3 out, slightly slow 2 out and ridden, strongly pressed last, soon joined, edged ahead closing stages, all out
held up, improved to dispute 5th, soon led, joined 4 out, soon headed, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no extra in 4th when slight mistake last, kept on one pace
settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, closer in 5th 5 out, 3rd 3 out, ridden next, no extra before last, weakened
always towards rear, ridden and no impression 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, slight mistake 2nd, mistake 3rd, towards rear and slight mistake 4th, some progress into 9th and mistake 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders, slight mistake 9th, 6th halfway, 3rd after 4 out, ridden next, no extra entering straight, weakened
led, slight mistake 1st and joined, headed after 5th and chased leaders, mistake 10th, soon towards rear, fell 11th
held up towards rear, slight mistake 4th and mistake 11th, progress into 7th 5 out, ridden in 5th 3 out, stayed on to challenge last, soon disputed, held in 2nd closing stages
held up towards rear, bad mistake 12th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, disputed 4th, headed after next and chased leaders, weakened 12th, ridden towards rear after next, pulled up before 3 out
led and disputed, headed after 5th and chased leaders, bad mistake and unseated rider 12th
mid-division best, ridden and no impression after 4 out, soon no extra, weakened
Dounikos won this marathon in 2019 and has run at a high level subsequently and looks to have the best chance of Gordon Elliott's quintet. Joseph O'Brien has three entries with Thermistocles possibly the best of them as he won a Thurles beginners' event last March and had a spin over hurdles at Naas a fortnight ago. Nick Lost completed a hat-trick in 2018 including a victory over 2m5f here. He's been racing in better company but his ability to see out the trip is unknown though it's the same with most of the remainder, including easy Leopardstown winner Midnight Maestro who is up 9lb. Se Mo Laoch will stay and has his ground so looks certain to give a good account while Moyhenna likes it around here and almost won a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last month. SCREAMING COLOURS won here in November and did well to get so close on a return visit last month as he didn't jump well. He'll need a better round here but still looks well enough treated so gets the nod.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, slight mistake 6th, ridden and no impression 5 out, pulled up before next, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Moyhenna (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along in 3rd after next, 2nd after 2 out and ridden to challenge at last, disputed lead briefly early run-in, kept on, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Agusta Gold (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan.
Discordantly (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Dounikos (FR) 66-1 (11-6) Disputed lead early, slightly slow 2nd, disputed 2nd after 11th, pushed along from 6 out, lost position from before 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Nov.
Roaring Bull (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, soon towards rear, ridden and no impression 5 out, soon no extra, pulled up before 2 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
The Big Dog (IRE) 11-8fav (12-0) Disputed, not fluent 1st, led 3 out, pushed along and rejoined before next, headed 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Mr Hendricks (12-0) at Navan 3m hvy in Jan.
Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Mid-division early, ridden in rear at 9th, soon no extra, pulled up before 4 out, at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Smoking Gun (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Mid-division early, chased leaders from 6th, 5th halfway, lost place 5 out, ridden in 9th next, soon no extra, pulled up before 2 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Thermistocles (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Waited with, 10th after 2nd, chased leaders and impeded approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 5th of 17, 11 3/4l behind Capilano Bridge (11-5) at Naas 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Nick Lost (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway into 5th 4 out, pushed along early straight, no impression before last where pecked badly, kept on one pace to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 11 1/2l behind Enjoy D'allen (11-7) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Castle Oliver (IRE) 11-4fav (10-3) Mid-division on inner, ridden in 6th before 2 out, no impression, 8th of 14, dist behind Cap York (10-7) at Naas 3m hcp sft in Mar.
High Sparrow (IRE) 18-1 (11-13) Disputed lead early, soon led, slight mistake 10th, joined 12th, slight mistake 4 out, soon headed, kept on same pace without matching principals from before last, 4th of 12, 4l behind Atlantic Shore (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Born By The Sea (IRE) 10-1 (11-13) Led at sedate pace, disputed at 2nd, headed before 7th, on terms 4 out, led after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Diol Ker (11-13) at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Screaming Colours (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Waited with, soon in rear and pushed along at stages early, slightly impeded 9th, slight mistake 11th, soon pushed along again, headway but still plenty to do from 2 out, went 2nd run-in, stayed on well without reaching winner, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Atlantic Shore (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Midnight Maestro 16-1 (11-10) Prominent, 4th after 5th, progress after 6th, 3rd 3 out, disputed 2nd at last (normal 2 out) where left in lead, asserted 1 1/2f out, ridden and ran on strongly 1f out, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec beating Theatre World (11-11) by 8 1/2l, 20 ran.
Fenno's Storm (IRE) 15-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and lost place after 4 out, dropped to rear early straight, rallied and kept on one pace from before last, 7th of 13, 24 1/4l behind Regina Dracones (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hvy in Feb.
Se Mo Laoch (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, closed approaching 3 out, challenged and on terms approaching last, headed 100yds out, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Unexpected Depth (12-3) at Punchestown 3m hcp hvy in Dec.
Out Sam 18-1 (11-9) Soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, 3rd after 8th, 5th and fell 3 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Tokyo Getaway (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead after 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on well inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Ballyshannon Rose (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan.
General Principle (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Waited with, soon towards rear, slightly impeded 12th and reminder, headway from 6 out, 10th and pushed along approaching 3 out, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Nov.
Spades Are Trumps (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Waited with, some slight mistakes and pushed along at stages early, slightly bumped 5th, 11th after 8th, headway and impeded 3 out, 4th and slight mistake 2 out, kept on without matching principals from before last, 5th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Atlantic Shore (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
