settled in touch mainly 4th, stumbled on landing and fell 8th (halfway)
led early, tracked leader in 2nd after 1st, mistake 8th, dropped to 3rd before next, pushed along approaching 4 out, not fluent next and soon no impression on leading pair, kept on well under pressure run-in to go 2nd closing stages
led after 1st, strongly pressed from 4 out, headed before 2 out, no impression under pressure approaching last, no extra run-in and dropped to 3rd closing stages
tracked leaders in 3rd, headway into 2nd at 9th, challenged from 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on under pressure run-in
always rear, no extra and weakened from 6 out, tailed off
Notre Pere has been racing at the very highest level since landing the Grade 1 Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown last April and though never quite matching that sort of form he hasn't run at all badly. He needs a thorough test of stamina and this small field may not bring out the best in him. Follow The Plan has had very little racing since his Grade 1 novice success at Leopardstown's Christmas fixture in 2008 but goes well fresh and the trip and going are ideal. Another Grade 1 chase winner, Rare Bob, had a recent run on the Flat to warm up for this but he was a long way behind GLENCOVE MARINA when Eoin Griffin's charge scored at Navan in March when in the care of Willie Mullins and the winner looked badly in need of the run when pulled up on his return at Gowran a month ago.
Follow The Plan (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th before 2 out, weakened from before last, 7th of 11, 11l behind Planet Of Sound (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Notre Pere (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, trailing 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Planet Of Sound (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Rare Bob (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 5th approaching 4 out where mistake, soon no extra and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Planet Of Sound (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Glencove Marina (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, good progress into 3rd 6 out, pushed along approaching 3 out, no extra from next, beaten in 4th when blundered at last, soon pulled up, in a race won by China Rock (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs G2 (1) in Oct, 7 ran.
Pink Suitcase (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, losing place when mistake 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 14th of 15, well behind Jack Cool (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Oct.
