held up early, chased leaders from 3rd, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, close up entering straight, every chance and pecked slightly 2 out, soon ridden in 2nd, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace
chased leader, 2nd halfway, led 4 out, strongly pressed before 2 out, pecked slightly 2 out, ridden to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in
led, slight mistake and headed 4 out, dropped to rear and ridden after next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
settled behind leaders, slight mistake 4th, 4th halfway, 3rd after 3 out, ridden and no impression on leaders before 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders early, held up in rear from 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, 4th and pushed after 3 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace
Victoria Bay has never won on ground this testing while Une Lavandiere was in poor form when last seen over fences though did win a Tramore handicap hurdle on heavy ground in December when Ask Heather, who had been running well over fences, was beaten 18 lengths. DEILGINIS wasn't sighted in her first two starts over fences but it was a different matter in a beginners' race at Cork last month where she scored with a bit in hand. She can go in again as Fiveaftermidnight is 9lb higher than her only victory at Naas in November.
Victoria Bay (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Waited with, mainly in rear, 3rd from 8th, slight mistake 3 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 4, 10 1/2l behind Salsaretta (11-7) at Thurles 2m 6f sft in Feb.
Deilginis (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, headway on outer early straight and led after 2 out, ridden approaching last and kept on well run-in, won at Cork 2m 4f sft in Jan beating Shakeytry (11-12) by 3 3/4l, 18 ran.
Une Lavandiere (FR) 3-1fav (10-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no extra after next, 8th of 11, 15 3/4l behind Ice Cold Soul (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Jan.
Ask Heather (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, soon pushed long, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, no impression on leader, no extra in 3rd last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 18 1/2l behind Une Lavandiere (11-6) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Dec.
Fiveaftermidnight (IRE) 66-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden from next, no impression, 12th of 27, 30 1/2l behind Black Tears (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Feb.
