led, joined briefly 8th, led next, ridden and headed 2 out, disputed 2nd at last, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead briefly 8th, headed next, ridden to lead 2 out, stayed on well under pressure run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent at 3rd and 7th, close 3rd 3 out, ridden and disputed 2nd next, disputed 2nd at last, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on without reaching winner close home
held up in last, pushed along 4 out, soon no impression and trailing
It Came To pass, a winning point-to-pointer and hunter, steps into this sort of grade for the first time but was still in touch when falling three out in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham. Three Stars is penalised for his victory at this level at Punchestown and was subsequently brushed aside when tackling a higher grade contest at Cheltenham. His stable also run Attribution, a smart hurdler who has done well over fences scoring at Naas then not too far behind Identity Thief at Punchestown. A line through Ball D'arc just about gives the edge to Three Stars but both could meet their match in BRIAR HILL. After a brilliant novice career over timber, he didn't quite fulfil that promise last season after injury but jumped well when scoring over fences at Killarney and should win plenty more good races this campaign.
Three Stars (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Led until after 2nd, dropped off front pair when not fluent 6th, not fluent and slightly hampered 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Le Prezien (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Attribution 16-1 (11-4) Raced in 4th, jumped left 2nd and reminders, went 3rd from 4 out and soon pushed along, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Identity Thief (11-4) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Briar Hill (IRE) Evensfav (11-12) Disputed lead, 2nd before 2nd, progress to lead narrowly before 2 out, asserted before last, driven out, won at Killarney 2m 5f sft in Aug beating Marinero (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Towards rear, headway into mid-division on inside 11th, no impression when fell 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in Mar.
