led, soon clear of remainder with 2nd, joined before 2 out, led again from last, went on from before straight, stayed on well, easily
soon raced in poor 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, jumped slightly left 2 out, weakened from last, tailed off
soon raced in poor 4th, no impression from before 2 out, one pace
soon behind in rear, jumped left 6th, jumped left 7th and unseated rider
soon raced in poor 5th, went 3rd but no impression approaching straight, kept on without threatening
tracked leader and soon clear of remainder, on terms before 2 out, pushed along in 2nd again approaching straight, soon no impression, one pace
soon behind towards rear, not fluent 7th, soon no danger
JUST CAUSE, rated 128 over hurdles, should go higher than that judged on a very encouraging chasing debut behind the potentially top-class Lieutenant Colonel at Gowran and he's unlikely to meet anything of that calibre here. Russian Bill is on the same mark over timber and he looks a nice one for chasing though he hasn't run since December. Peoples Park put his experience over fences to good use at Ballinrobe and it will be a surprise if he doesn't get competitive while Killiney Court beat a decent type in King's Wharf at Tipperary and continues to make good progress.
Killiney Court (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Soon raced in 4th, bumped slightly 4 out, pushed along into straight, closed 2 out, on terms last, led and stayed on best closing stages, won at Tipperary 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Oct beating King's Wharf (11-10) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Akito (FR) 33-1 (10-10) Jumped big 1st and reminder, soon mid-division, 10th at 8th, no extra when not fluent last, eased run-in, 14th of 17, 34 1/2l behind Supreme Vinnie (10-11) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Peoples Park (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, hampered 1st, 4th halfway, progress into 2nd 3 out, challenged before next, ridden to lead after 2 out, asserted before last, kept on well, won at Ballinrobe 2m 1f Yielding in May beating Bringerofthedawn (11-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
Cassells Rock (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, lost place and reminder after 4 out, badly hampered and left 6th after 2 out, ridden and closer before last, challenged and led briefly run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Master Appeal (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Georges Conn (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Soon chased leaders in 3rd, 4th after 10th, not fluent 4 out, dropped to last before straight, no extra and pulled up before 2 out, at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp hvy in Oct.
Just Cause (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd at 4th, closed to get on terms on outer approaching straight, headed from 3 out, still close up when mistake last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Lieutenant Colonel (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 2f Yielding in Oct.
Russian Bill (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 4th before 2 out and went 2nd entering straight, under pressure and kept on one pace run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 21, 1 1/2l behind Forever Gold (10-3) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hvy in Dec.