tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress after 3 out, close 2nd and pushed along early straight, led 2 out, ridden clear last, kept on under pressure
led, headed before 3rd, dropped to rear and weakened before 4 out
held up towards rear, 8th and pushed along after 3 out, 7th 2 out, stayed on well under pressure from before last
tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, progress after 3 out, 4th and ridden 2 out, satyed on from last
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 3rd 4 out, 2nd after 3 out, led narrowly entering straight, headed 2 out, no extra before last
prominent, led from 3rd, headed before 4 out, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 4th 3 out, kept on same pace from next
raced wide, progress halfway, led before 4 out, strongly pressed 3 out, headed entering straight, one pace from 2 out
prominent, 2nd halfway, 4th 4 out, lost place 3 out, one pace
ON THE WAY OUT had Stonemaster, Lucky William and Made In Taipan behind in a conditions event won by Jumbo Rio at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. He has since finished a close third to Sublimity at Cork where dropping back to the minimum trip didn't suit. There doesn't appear any reason why John Kiely's charge shouldn't confirm the form with those behind at Punchestown and, as he had earlier finished in front of Donnas Palm in the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse won by Hurricane Fly, he gets the vote. Won In The Dark has been competing at the highest level for most of his career and is a dual Grade 1 winner. He will appreciate this drop in class though he hasn't been showing much dash in his most recent starts. Another Grade 1 winner, Shinrock Paddy, didn't stay three miles last time but this is his trip and he is respected.
Shinrock Paddy (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, 5th before 2 out, went 3rd under pressure early straight, soon no impression and weakened run-in, 5th of 10, 10l behind Mourad (11-6) at Leopardstown 3m hdl G2 (1) in Dec.
Aitmatov (GER) 5-2fav (11-10) Led, disputed from 4th, ridden and headed entering straight, weakened from 3 out, last of 6, 16l behind Rigour Back Bob (11-8) at Navan 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Donnas Palm (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division on inner, 7th halfway, closer 3 out, ridden and no threat from next, 9th of 11, 20l behind Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) sft in Dec.
Stonemaster (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 4 out, led briefly after 2 out, headed under pressure early straight, no impression from before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Jumbo Rio (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Dec.
Lucky William (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders on inner, 5th halfway, ridden to go 3rd briefly entering straight, no impression under pressure from before last, 5th of 8, 5l behind Jumbo Rio (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Dec.
Made In Taipan (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leader in 2nd, not jump fluently, mistake 4th, disputed lead approaching 3 out, headed next and soon no extra, weakened, 6th of 8, 20l behind Jumbo Rio (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Dec.
On The Way Out (IRE) 5-4 (11-5) Chased clear leader in 3rd, 2nd from 5th and closed entering straight, 3rd and outpaced from before 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in without threatening principals, 3rd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Sublimity (11-5) at Cork 2m hdl sft.
Prince Rudi (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Always prominent, headway to dispute 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on under pressure run-in, in a race won by Across The Bay (9-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft, 19 ran.
Vic Venturi (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Towards rear, never a factor, 7th of 12, 35l behind Pandorama (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) in Dec.
Won In The Dark (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Slowly into stride and held up, pulled hard halfway, 4th approaching 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, last of 5, 16l behind Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec.
