mid-division on inner, slight mistake 10th, mistake next, 8th and not fluent 3 out, no impression
rear of mid-division, bad mistake 5th, mistake 9th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
in rear, badly hampered at 1st, trailing when jumped left 2nd, mistake 5th, trailing when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, unseated rider 9th
rear of mid-division, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
mid-division on outer, slow jump at 4th and briefly pushed along, headway into 5th on outer 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, 7th 3 out, ridden entering straight, no impression from 2 out
led, bad mistake 8th and headed, rider lost iron briefly, 3rd at 9th, 3rd when pecked on landing 3 out, close 4th on inner entering straight, pushed along in 2nd after 2 out, headway to lead at last, pushed out run-in, comfortably
mid-division, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders on inner, 9th 3 out, no impression entering straight, moderate 7th at last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, led from 8th, pushed along entering straight, mistake and headed 2 out, soon 3rd, no impression on leaders before last, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 5 out, 2nd 4 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression
mid-division, closer in 6th and slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, went 4th at last, no impression
mid-division, some mistakes, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
rear of mid-division, hampered briefly after 9th, never a factor
rear of mid-division when fell at 1st
tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 4th 3 out, pushed along and led 2 out, ridden and soon strongly pressed, headed at last, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace
This features the belated chasing debut at the age of eleven of the brilliant former champion hurdler FAUGHEEN. Beaten in the Morgiana on this card a year ago, he never recovered his sparkle but connections wouldn't be risking him here unless thought capable of a big run. His stable companion Antey looks one to follow in the coming months while Gordon Elliott mounts a strong challenge with Flawless Escape, a very good second to Swordsman at Roscommon before a poor round of jumping at Fairyhouse; Cracking Smart, a very smart novice hurdler but beaten when odds-on for his chasing debut at Limerick and a first-fence faller at Naas last week; and Glenloe, who looks a real staying type and could find this on the short side. Midnight Stroll, disqualified after winning easily over timber at Cork in January, had earlier made a promising start over fences at Naas while Henry De Bromhead's pair Dommage Pour Toi and point-to-point winner Walk Away both look potentially useful recruits to fences.
Antey (GER) 9-1 (11-12) Held up, soon towards rear, ridden and headway into 10th before straight, soon closed, challenged and on terms run-in, stayed on well close home, just prevailed at finish, won at Punchestown 2m sft in Apr beating Shady Operator (11-12) by ns, 17 ran.
Baily Gorse (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, some slight mistakes, 4th after 6th, pushed along from 4 out and no impression, 5th of 11, 37 1/2l behind Dream Conti (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Berkerys Enigma (IRE) 7-4 (12-2) Ww rr, 5th 1/2way, went 3rd aftr 8th, wo bef 4out, jnd next, still disp ld when left clr last, won at Durrow 3m mdn sft in Mar beating Duckphil (11-11) by 6l, 6 ran.
Best Behavior (IRE) 80-1 (11-12) Mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Chavi Artist (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, slight mistakes 5th and 7th, 8th 3 out, ridden and no impression next, weakened and tailed off, 8th of 18, dist behind Tornado Flyer (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Cracking Smart (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Led, fell 1st, at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Dommage Pour Toi (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leader, fell 1st, at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Faugheen (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 5th, soon pulled up, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Flawless Escape 3-1 (11-12) Led, slow in jumping early and soon headed, prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along into straight, challenged and bumped with rival 2 out, not matching winner but still very much in touch when fell last, at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Glenloe (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th from 4th, not fluent 8th, slight mistake 4 out, soon pushed along, no impression approaching straight, kept on without threatening, 4th of 10, 11l behind Real Steel (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding in Jan.
Lord Schnitzel (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) In touch, 5th after 9th, lost place before 4 out, not fluent in 8th 3 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 19, dist behind Camden Village (11-11) at Cork 3m mdn Good - Yielding in Apr.
Midnight Stroll 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching straight and travelled well to go 3rd before 2 out, pushed out with hands and heels run-in to lead closing stages, comfortably, won at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan beating Chatham Street Lad (10-11) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Press Conference (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Mid-division on outer, 9th halfway, pushed along 4 out, ridden and no impression after next, soon no extra, 22nd of 24, dist behind Musical Slave (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in May.
Spades Are Trumps (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 5th after 8th, headway to 2nd after 4 out, improved to lead 3 out, strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed and ridden, no impression before last, kept on run-in, not trouble winner, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Air Supremacy (11-1) at Killarney 2m 7f hcp gd in Aug.
The Long Mile 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, moderate 10th at 5th, no impression, never a factor, 7th of 10, dist behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-12) at Wexford 2m Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Trappist Monk (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd at 5th, went 2nd at 10th, pushed along 3 out, ridden and no impression on easy winner when mistake 2 out, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 17l behind Samcro (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Nov.
Walk Away (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out and 6th next, no extra early straight, 7th of 12, 24 1/4l behind Minella Indo (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding in May.
