towards rear on outer, never a factor, 7th approaching 3 out, soon no extra
tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, no extra approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, driven along from 2 out and no extra approaching last
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden after 2 out and no impression from before last, kept on one pace
prominent and disputed lead, led 4 out, asserted before last and clear early run-in, ridden and reduced advantage closing stages
settled in mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, travelled well to go 2nd approaching straight, pushed along and no impression on winner when mistake last, kept on under pressure run-in
towards rear, never a factor, 8th approaching 3 out, no threat and kept on one pace in straight
mid-division, 6th approaching 3 out, no extra from 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last
always behind, trailing before 3 out, pulled up before last
led or disputed lead, headed 4 out, no extra after next, weakened and pulled up before last
mid-division on outer, dropped towards rear from halfway, behind when pulled up before 3 out
It generally takes a good one to win this - Harchibald and Kalahari King have been successful in recent years - and there are some potentially useful performers today. Tofino Bay produced the run of his career so far when almost making all in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse and was only caught late on by Get Me Out Of Here. A repeat of that would make him very difficult to beat but THE TRACEY SHUFFLE may have his measure. David Pipe's lightly-raced charge sauntered round Ayr for an easy victory in February and missed Cheltenham and Aintree to wait for this. He's very progressive and gets the vote though Nicky Henderson's Nelson's Bridge is one to keep an eye on. He won a bumper than a minor race at Taunton before finishing a long way behind stablemate Simonsig at Cheltenham where several mistakes didn't help his cause. Another UK challenger, At Fishers Cross, won a couple of bumpers before beaten at Ffos Las on his hurdling debut while Turban is held by Tofino Bay on their run at Clonmel in February.
Ample Appeal (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Unruly in parade ring, waited with towards rear, headway 5 out, 6th before 3 out, close up approaching next, gained narrow lead and stayed on best to assert run-in, won at Limerick 2m 5f mdn hdl hvy in Mar beating Busty Brown (11-12) by 3l, 13 ran.
Beir Bua (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Soon mid-division, kept on same pace from 3 out, 9th of 17, 31l behind Eightybarackstreet (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hcp hdl 8Evens23 gd.
Nelson's Bridge (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 1st, headway 4 out, ridden when mistake 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 11th of 17, well behind Simonsig (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
The Tracey Shuffle 3-10fav (11-4) Made all, clear after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, eased last 100 yards, won at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Wilde Pastures (11-4) by 31l, 7 ran.
Tofino Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs.
Turban (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon no impression, 11th of 12, 36l behind Jenari (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd.
At Fishers Cross (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Not always fluent, chased leader, hit 4 out, led and hit next, went right 2 out, soon joined, blundered and headed last, stayed on and rallied closing stages, always just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Tell Me Y (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Rear View (IRE) 11-4 (11-11) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, headway to go 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out and soon ridden to dispute briefly, headed last, kept on same pace under pressure without matching winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Go All The Way (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Mar.
Weather Eye (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, 10th of 16, 33l behind Copper Bleu (11-12) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl hvy in May '09.
Zardsky (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, no extra from early straight, 5th of 7, 30l behind My Murphy (11-7) at Navan 2m 7f nov hdl sft in Mar.
In Bloom (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 4th 3 out, no extra next, 8th of 17, 26l behind Eightybarackstreet (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m nov hcp hdl 8Evens23 gd.
Corskeagh Royale (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, driven along and no impression on leaders from 3 out, kept on one pace in straight, 4th of 18, 14l behind Magnanimity (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs in Nov '10.
