mid-division, 9th halfway, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, soon no extra
chased leader, led approaching halfway, headed before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders early, weakened halfway, pulled up after 4 out
rear of mid-division, headway in 8th 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, under pressure in 3rd last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway into 7th halfway, lost place 4 out, ridden in 12th entering straight, no impression and kept on one pace
chased leaders, 2nd halfway, led before 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, kept on, no extra before last
chased leaders, 4th halfway, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 8th halfway, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway into 14th 3 out, ridden into 7th 2 out, no extra before last, kept on same pace
mid-division, 13th 3 out, ridden into 9th 2 out, no impression in 6th last, kept on same pace
led, ran off bend and attempted to run out approaching halfway, headed and soon 3rd, ridden in 6th 3 out, no extra entering straight
mid-division best, no impression before 3 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway in 7th 3 out, improved to challenge 2 out, soon led and ridden, strongly pressed before last, headed run-in and no extra
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 6th before 3 out, 4th 3 out, led entering straight, ridden and narrowly headed after 2 out, kept on, rallied to lead again run-in
chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway into 3rd 4 out, ridden and no extra approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway into 10th 3 out, ridden into 5th 2 out, under pressure in 4th last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
Scholars Mate hasn't been seen since completing a double in late 2009. He was returning from a two-year break on that occasion so the absence won't be a problem and the fact that he's still with Willie Mullins at the age of eleven suggests he's well regarded. OSCAR HILL was a couple of lengths behind Owennacurra Milan when they met over 2m at Thurles earlier this month and both have been in tremendous form subsequently. The former had a facile success at Downpatrick for which he's been raised 14lb while the latter is now 17lb higher after another easy victory over the minimum trip here. Preference is just for Gordon Elliott's charge at today's revised weights but there are others with claims including Ghareer, who ran his best race for some time behind Concrete And Clay over the C&D in January. Murchu made all in a maiden at Leopardstown but will find this much more testing.
Ad Idem 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 10th 5 out, no impression approaching straight, 10th of 18, well behind On His Own (10-2) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs sft in Jan.
Jim Will Fix It (IRE) 11-8 (11-2) Chased leader, jumped right, 2nd halfway, improved to dispute 3 out, ridden in 2nd before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Foildubh (11-2) at Navan 2m 1f nov chs in Dec.
Ainm Spartacus (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Prominent, led from 6th, joined when fell next, in a race won by Blackstairmountain (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f beg chs hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
Owennacurra Milan (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Rear of mid-division, headway into 6th 3 out, improved to lead on outer 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well from last, won at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 80-109 sft beating Seventy Three (11-2) by 2l, 20 ran.
Turner Brown (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Waited with towards rear until headway approaching 3 out, 5th into straight, 2nd before 2 out, no impression under pressure in 3rd and kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Hans Crescent (9-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 in Feb.
Cavite Beta (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Soon led, strongly pressed 2 out, headed entering straight and no extra from before last, weakened, 11th of 20, 7l behind Dul Ar An Ol (10-2) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Feb.
Just Friends (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders early, moderate 3rd after halfway, ridden in moderate 4th 3 out, 5th next, no extra, 6th of 10, 42l behind The Sneezer (9-8) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs sft.
Murchu (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Led at slow gallop, joined from 6th, headed approaching straight, on terms again 2 out, stayed on best to edge ahead near finish, won at Limerick 2m 3f 5yo mdn hdl hvy in Dec beating Changing Times (11-5) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Scholars Mate (IRE) 3-1fav (10-11) Towards rear, progress approaching 4 out, 6th next, ridden in 3rd approaching last, led and stayed on best run-in, won at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Nov '09 beating Captain Cole (9-7) by 1l, 17 ran.
Slew Charm (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 5th 2 out, challenged under pressure before last, no extra run-in, 5th of 22, 10l behind Ten Bob (10-11) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 80-116 hvy in Oct.
Oscar Hill (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Made all, drew clear before 3 out, soon totally in command and eased run-in, very easily, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 80-109 beating Mylerstown (9-7) by 31l, 7 ran.
Vital Plot (USA) 20-1 (9-10) Rear of mid-division, some headway and in touch early straight, kept on one pace, 9th of 17, 9l behind He'llberemembered (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Oct.
American Flyer (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Led, ran wide off bend after 3rd and soon joined, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 18, 48l behind Double Double (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl sft.
Forty Foot Tom 66-1 (11-3) Waited with, keen hold and closed from before 5 out, 5th approaching next where fell, in a race won by Mourad (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f hdl G2 (1) in Feb, 8 ran.
Ghareer (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Waited with towards rear, headway from before 3 out, 4th before straight, ridden to chase winner approaching last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Concrete And Clay (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 1f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (8Evens30) (4yo+) sft in Jan.
Missgiloney (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Always last of the 4, no extra 3 out, last of 4, 49l behind So Young (11-12) at Thurles 2m Lstd hdl hvy in Dec.
Paco Jack (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) In rear, some headway early straight to go 10th 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 7th of 22, 9l behind Up For The Match (9-13) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140.
Sidi Ifni (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, no extra from 3 out, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Kyle's Turn (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 in Dec, 22 ran.
