tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and dropped towards rear 3 out, no extra, behind when pulled up before next
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 6th
tracked leaders on inner in 4th, ridden and no impression in 8th approaching straight, no extra
settled towards rear, ridden 3 out and no impression in 9th entering straight, no extra and pulled up before last
rear of mid-division, ridden in 8th 3 out, soon no extra and pulled up before next
rear of mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, no impression in 6th early straight, no extra
chased leaders, 6th halfway, 6th 3 out but ridden and no impression in 5th next, kept on well under pressure run-in to go 3rd close home
mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, no threat from 2 out
held up in rear, some headway on outer 4 out, no extra from next and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader in 2nd and disputed from 5th, ridden and led briefly entering straight, headed 2 out and soon no impression on winner, no extra run-in
led, joined 5th, ridden and headed entering straight, no impression and dropped to 4th approaching last, kept on one pace under pressure run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, pecked on landing 4 out, headway to lead 2 out, asserted before last and kept on well run-in
towards rear, headway to go 6th 4 out and ridden in 4th 2 out, 2nd before last but no impression on winner, kept on one pace under pressure run-in
chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden and dropped to rear before 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
Philip Hobbs won this for the UK a couple of years ago so there's no reason why Venetia Williams' Shangani shouldn't go well. The Real Article has yet to win over fences though the former useful hurdler has probably been racing over trips too short. Sweeney Tunes landed a Grade 2 at Naas in February before a tremendous run in the Irish National and enters the equation despite his big weight. The six-year-old Home Farm finished just in front of him at Fairyhouse and must also be considered. Avondhu Lady is well up to this class having been narrowly beaten in a Grade 2 at Limerick and she's on the short-list but IMMEDIATE RESPONSE is given the nod. He's managed to win six races despite looking a tricky ride on occasions but he jumped really well at Clonmel last time and could have been let in lightly for his handicap debut over fences.
Sweeney Tunes 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, 6th 5 out, 3rd entering straight and soon ridden, dropped to 4th last and no impression run-in, 4th of 28, 7l behind Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch.
Terminal (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up behind in touch, blundered 4 out, outpaced next, kept on under pressure from last, no impression, 5th of 11, 10l behind Lord Windermere (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Shangani (USA) 5-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along 8th, ridden to chase leading pair after 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Eastlake (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Mar.
Competitive Edge (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Towards rear, never a factor, ridden in 10th 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 10th of 28, 37l behind Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch.
The Real Article (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, left 3rd at 5th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Savello (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs gs in Mar.
Cootamundra (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Rear of mid-division, some headway after halfway and 11th 5 out, 8th entering straight but no extra from 2 out, 12th of 28, 43l behind Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch.
Avondhu Lady (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden in 5th 4 out, 3rd entering straight, went 2nd after 2 out, kept on run-in, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1).
Immediate Response (IRE) 4-6fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, closer in 2nd 2 out (normal 3 out), led before straight, asserted before last, driven out run-in to hold on closing stages, won at Clonmel 2m 4f chs in Mar beating Rubert (11-8) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Carlingford Lough (IRE) 8-1fav (9-11) Towards rear, some headway on outer approaching 4 out, no extra from next and behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch, 28 ran.
Forty Foot Tom 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead entering straight, ridden clear before last, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m 5f beg chase gd beating Playtime Ben (11-9) by 20l, 12 ran.
Spring Heeled (IRE) 5-1fav (10-9) Settled towards rear, some headway into 10th 2 out, went 5th before last and kept on well under pressure run-in, not reach winner, 3rd of 20, 1l behind He'llberemembered (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs gs in Mar.
Madam Bovary (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Towards rear, ridden 4 out, moderate 5th after 3 out, no impression straight, 8th of 12, 33l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1).
Saoirse Dun (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Towards rear, headway from 4 out, 4th next, ridden to dispute lead from 2 out, kept on run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Panther Claw (11-6) at Navan 3m nov chs hvy in Mar.
Shabra Charity (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Attempted to make all, tried to press on from sole rival from 7 out, reduced lead and ridden approaching straight, joined before 2 out and soon headed, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 3, 5l behind Argocat (10-13) at Limerick 3m nov chs G2 (1) gd.
Home Farm (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Mid-division, 11th halfway, short of room after 3 out and went 6th entering straight, soon ridden and went 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 28, 3l behind Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch.
White Star Line (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, steady headway 4 out, tracked leading pair next, outpaced before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 24, 12l behind Golden Chieftain (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Mar.
Caheronaun (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Led and disputed, narrow leader from 5 out, joined 2 out, led again run-in and stayed on best, won at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs gd beating Supreme Doc (11-3) by 2l, 11 ran.
Hidden Future (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Towards rear, some headway into moderate 3rd 2 out, soon no extra and dropped to 5th before last, 5th of 10, 14l behind Carlowsantana (10-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f nov chs.
Solstice Knight (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inner in 4th, ridden and went 2nd soon after 2 out, challenged last and led run-in, kept on well under pressure, won at Fairyhouse 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-123 beating Sea Master (9-9) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
