led or disputed lead, jumped left 9th, headed after 5 out and ridden in 5th approaching straight, no extra approaching last, kept on one pace
prominent and disputed lead, slow 5th, led after 5 out until slight mistake and headed 3 out, ridden and dropped to 3rd before last, no impression run-in
held up racing keenly, headway into 3rd at 9th, pushed along entering straight and no extra in 4th when stumbled on landing last
chased leaders and in rear before halfway, pushed along approaching 4 out and no extra when slight mistake 2 out, weakened
settled towards rear, went 3rd when slight mistake 2 out, headway to lead last and kept on well run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 3 out, ridden after 2 out and headed last, no impression on winner run-in
Quito De La Roque has competed at the highest level since winning the Jnwine.com at Down Royal a year ago where he had Sizing Europe in second. He has a huge penalty to carry for that and it will be a cracking effort if he can beat REALT DUBH on these terms. A triple Grade 1 winner as a novice, the latter hasn't quite gone on as expected but race conditions favour him here and he should be up to the task. He regularly beat Noble Prince as a novice and shouldn't have much to fear from him while the remainder will need to show improvement to get into the action.
Quito De La Roque (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, dropped to 4th and ridden 4 out, no impression in a dispute of 5th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Sizing Europe (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Prominent, 2nd for much, not entirely fluent 2 out and no extra, 5th of 8, 25l behind Nearly Nama'd (10-10) at Galway 2m hcp hdl hvy in Oct.
Playtime Ben (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, closer in 6th 5 out, 4th next, close up 2nd 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 4th 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 15l behind King Vuvuzela (10-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 gf in Oct.
Armaramak (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, slow jumping early, lost place when hampered 4th, last and no extra from 3 out, 12th of 14, 38l behind Liberty's Gift (10-11) at Tipperary 2m hcp hdl gd in Oct.
Noble Prince (GER) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders mainly 4th, closer 4 out but ridden early straight and no impression before last, no extra, 4th of 5, 14l behind Toner D'Oudairies (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 7f chs Grade 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Realt Dubh (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, improved to dispute lead with every chance when blundered at last, unable to recover and kept on for 2nd run-in, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Days Hotel (11-10) at Naas 2m chs Grd 2 (1) in Feb.
