led, headed 23rd, slight mistake 29th, mistake in 2nd 2 out, soon 3rd, no impression last, one pace
slightly slow 2nd, soon towards rear, last and slow 6th, moderate 6th 2 out and no impression, one pace
chased leaders, 6th at 8th, pecked slightly 29th, pushed along 33rd in moderate 5th, still moderate 5th 2 out and no impression, one pace
soon tracked leaders, 3rd at 8th, soon 2nd, led 23rd, went on 29th, reduced lead and pressed from before last, stayed on well run-in
towards rear, improved to chase leaders 25th, dropped towards rear again from 29th, moderate 7th 2 out and no impression, moderate 4th approaching last, kept on without threatening run-in
soon tracked leaders, 4th at 8th, slight mistake 15th, pecked 29th, chased leader and slight mistake 30th, 3rd 2 out, soon 2nd, no impression and kept on same pace run-in
prominent early, mistake 3rd, pecked 4th, slightly slow 5th, 7th at 8th, soon towards rear, last at 16th and behind, soon pulled up
soon prominent, slight mistake 4th, 2nd at 8th, soon 3rd, 2nd again at 24th, dropped to last and pecked 33rd, mistake 2 out, pulled up approaching last
chased leaders, 5th at 8th, pecked 22nd, pushed along briefly 25th, pushed along again after next, soon under pressure, towards rear 31st, soon no impression, one pace
held up, 8th at 8th, not fluent 22nd, moderate 4th 2 out and no impression, no extra and not fluent last, one pace
Uncle Junior won this in 2012 and again last year but it's difficult to see him keeping tabs on his younger rivals at the age of fifteen. Enda Bolger has his usual strong hand with Josies Orders and Quantitativeeasing, both winners over this tricky banks course. The former was surprisingly beaten by Any Currency in the Glenfarclas at Cheltenham but had his stablemate in third with BLESS THE WINGS splitting them. Any one of the trio could win this on their day but Gordon Elliott's charge came away from the Festival to run the race of his life in the Irish Grand National when beaten a short-head by Rogue Angel and none of these rivals could match that sort of form over regulation fences so he gets the nod.
Ballyboker Bridge (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 21st, close up next, ridden and one pace before last, well held after, 6th of 16, 19 1/4l behind Any Currency (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gd in Mar.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up, 20th halfway, progress after 5 out, went 5th 3 out and 3rd next, led briefly last, under pressure and kept on one pace run-in, just failed, 2nd of 27, shd behind Rogue Angel (10-9) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Boxing Along (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leader in 2nd early, 3rd from before 5th, dropped to 4th 6 out, ridden in rear before 3 out, no impression, 4th of 6, 32l behind Fine Rightly (11-6) at Cork 3m (1) hvy in Mar.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 22nd, chased leaders 6 out, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to chase front pair before last, never on terms, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Any Currency (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gd in Mar.
Uncle Junior (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up, detached in rear most of way, never a threat, tailed off, 10th of 16, dist behind Any Currency (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gd in Mar.
Cantlow (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, 15th halfway, 10th and blundered 3 out, no impression from next, 11th of 27, 25 3/4l behind Rogue Angel (10-9) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Current Exchange (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Mid-division, behind from 10th (bechers), tailed off and pulled up before 13th (valentines), at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Duers (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Mid div, prog to chs ldr 3rd, 3l 3rd 1/2way, lost pos aftr 4out, no ex 2out, 6th of 10, dist behind Marasonnien (12-1) at Ballyragget 3m Good - Yielding in Mar.
Jacks Island (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Impeded 1st, soon towards rear, not fluent 4th, never a factor, kept on same pace from 3 out, 9th of 24, dist behind Uptake (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Theroadtocroker (IRE) 6-1 (12-1) Ww rr, 6th 1/2way, no ex from 3out, ko onepce str, 4th of 9, 32 1/2l behind Samanntom (12-1) at Stradbally 3m gs in Apr.
Josies Orders (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway after 22nd, outpaced in 6th after 2 out, soon ridden, rallied last, stayed on well under pressure flat, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Any Currency (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) gd in Mar.
