rear of mid-division, weakened from 6 out, pulled up before 4 out
slowly into stride and held up towards rear, slight mistake 6th, some progress from 3 out, 8th and ridden next, no impression and eased final furlong
mid-division, 8th 3 out, soon ridden, 5th next, kept on without threatening from last
rear of mid-division, closer in 9th 3 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders when mistake last, kept on one paced
mid-division, weakened from halfway, pulled up before 6 out
tracked leaders on inner, close 4th 2 out, 3rd travelling well at last, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well final furlong
tracked leaders, 5th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
very slowly away and settled well off pace in last, poor 10th 3 out, late headway from 2 out, never nearer
raced 2nd, disputed lead 5th, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no extra after last
tracked leaders on outer, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, no impression after last
mid-division, weakened from 6 out, pulled up before next
led, joined briefly 5th, strongly pressed from 2 out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, 4th at 7th, gradually weakened from 5 out
mid-division, 7th 4 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, 6th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, no impression from 5 out
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 7th, no impression from 4 out
lost considerable ground at start and pulled up after 1st
never better than mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
always towards rear, swished tail halfway
This is notoriously difficult to predict but there's no doubt that Blackstairmountain has an outstanding chance at the weights which is why he's been ante-post favourite for so long. Willie Mullins' charge, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and fences, had a pipe-opener on the Flat at Bellewstown early last month which he won by 10l and looks to have been laid out for this as his stablemate Blazing Tempo was a year ago. However, he'll be at restricted odds in such a competitive affair so OUT NOW is taken as the value bet. Edward O'Grady's charge, runner-up to Seabass at Leopardstown in January and occupying the same position in the Irish National, jumps well and stays forever and with a featherweight and Barry Geraghty in the saddle should give us a good run. Runner-up last year was Wise Old Owl and he hasn't run since. He's 10lb higher and it's difficult to see him getting any closer under that burden. Whodoyouthink gained his first success over fences by 17l at Punchestown and ran well enough over hurdles last time to be considered along with Dermot Weld's Daffern Seal, a winner over the C&D last year.
Follow The Plan (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Waited with early, soon chased leaders, 4th 4 out, closed from before 2 out, ridden to challenge in 2nd before last, no extra and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 5l behind China Rock (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) hvy in Apr.
Wise Old Owl (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Mid-division, 10th halfway, headway into 6th 5 out, 3rd 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead after last, asserted entering straight, reduced advantage and challenged inside final furlong, headed final 100 yards and no extra, 2nd of 22, 1 1/4l behind Blazing Tempo (10-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul '11.
Blackstairmountain (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Settled in 6th, pushed along to go 4th entering straight, headway to go 2nd before last, challenged under pressure run-in, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Lucky William (11-10) at Punchestown 2m nov chs G1 hvy in Apr.
Muirhead (IRE) 18-1 (10-4) Mid-division, took keen hold early stages, blundered and lost place 15th, hampered next, soon behind, 13th of 18, 49l behind Carruthers (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Whodoyouthink (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Attempted to make all, clear halfway, driven along and reduced advantage before 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Dare To Doubt (10-7) at Cork 2m 4f hdl in Jul.
Bob Lingo (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, ridden early straight and no impression in 5th approaching last, kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 11l behind Golanbrook (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl hvy in Jun.
Out Now (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Rear of mid-division, headway into 8th 6 out, 4th travelling well entering straight, challenged 2 out and slight mistake, soon ridden and disputed, kept on, no extra close home, 2nd of 29, 4 1/2l behind Lion Na Bearnai (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gs in Apr.
Alpine Eagle (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Held up, over jumped 1st, progress into moderate 3rd 4 out, soon ridden, in touch but under strong pressure when fell 3 out, in a race won by Dare To Doubt (10-7) at Cork 2m 4f hdl in Jul, 5 ran.
Cross Appeal (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, weakened before 6 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Lion Na Bearnai (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gs in Apr, 29 ran.
Osana (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 2nd 2 out (usual 3 out), led and ridden clear at last (usual 2 out), headed 2f out, no impression on winner final furlong, 2nd of 14, 7l behind Caim Hill (10-10) at Kilbeggan 2m 6f hcp chs in Jul.
Shot From The Hip (GER) 13-8fav (11-3) Chased leaders, 3rd for much, ridden in pursuit of winner from before last, kept on without getting there run-in, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Alpine Eagle (10-13) at Tipperary 2m 1f chs sft in Jun.
Casey Top (IRE) 5-1fav (9-10) Always prominent, travelled well to lead from 2 out, soon ridden to assert, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Killarney 2m 6f hcp chs gd in May beating Tranquil Sea (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Campbonnais (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Soon tracked leaders, 5th after 3 out, challenged next, no impression in 3rd from before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Victrix Gale (9-13) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp chs in Jul.
Fisher Bridge (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Tracked leaders mainly 4th, went 3rd before 4 out, 2nd and challenged 2 out, hard ridden to join issue before last, narrow advantage early run-in, edged right under pressure, straightened up by rider close home, won at Wexford 2m 6f chs in Oct '10 beating Lucky At Last (11-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Deal Done (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Prominent, soon led and disputed, ridden and headed before 2 out, no extra and kept on one pace, 6th of 29, 31l behind Lion Na Bearnai (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gs in Apr.
Eagle's Pass (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up, 6th 4 out, ridden from next, no impression, 6th of 10, 22l behind His Excellency (10-12) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp chs in Jul.
Prince Erik 33-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, tailed off, 9th of 29, well behind Lion Na Bearnai (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gs in Apr.
Jamsie Hall (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Waited with towards rear, progress into moderate 8th after 3 out, closed up next, ridden to chase winner and no impression from before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Victrix Gale (9-13) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp chs in Jul.
Ordinary Man (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Waited with towards rear, progress into 8th approaching straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 8th of 12, 32l behind Casey Top (9-10) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp chs gd in May.
His Excellency (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, closer in 3rd 3 out, ridden to gain narrow lead before last, joined and swished tail run-in, stayed on well under pressure to edge ahead close home, won at Killarney 2m 1f hcp chs in Jul beating Banna Man (10-5) by nk, 10 ran.
Carlito Brigante (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, well off pace, niggled along 6 out, soon poor 3rd and no impression, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, well behind Dazzling Susie (11-5) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f nov chs sft in Jun.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Raced in 2nd until mistake 5 out, soon dropped out of contention, tailed off, 3rd of 5, well behind Dare To Doubt (10-7) at Cork 2m 4f hdl in Jul.
Torphichen 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, soon stumbled, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 17, well behind Native Gallery (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Daffern Seal (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division on inside, 8th and under pressure when mistake 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 6th of 19, 12l behind Teaforthree (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Harold's Cross (AUS) 25-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out (usual 5 out), 10th of 14, well behind Caim Hill (10-10) at Kilbeggan 2m 6f hcp chs in Jul.
