chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 4th halfway, pushed along after 4 out and soon no impression on easy winner, moderate 2nd and not fluent last, kept on one pace
ran freely and led after 1st, headed after 4 out and soon no impression on easy winner, moderate 3rd after 2 out, no extra
led early, tracked leader until led again after 4 out, soon asserted and 8 lengths clear when not fluent 2 out, stayed on well, easily
always rear, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened, completely tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, 3rd halfway, no impression on easy winner 3 out, moderate 4th after next
Only Exception has gone backwards since landing a Ballinrobe maiden a year ago while Shabra Charity has won once over hurdles in 33 starts and is better over fences. Dancing Roe is going well and followed an impressive maiden success at KiIlbeggan with a good run behind Elsie at Roscommon where he may not have enjoyed the very quick ground. However, like the in-form Smiler, who gained a hard-fought victory over the course and distance last month, he has to concede 6lb to ORGILGO BAY and that looks beyond him. Third in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, a very good second to El Salvador on the Flat at Bellewstown earlier this month will have put him straight for this before he goes on to better things.
Dancing Roe (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, mainly 3rd, ridden before straight, stayed on into 2nd 3 out and pressed leader briefly, no extra in 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Elsie (11-7) at Roscommon 2m 4f nh nov hdl gf.
Smiler (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Made all, clear early, not fluent 2nd, reduced lead after 4th, pressed run-in, stayed on well closing stages to hold on at the finish, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn hdl gf in Jun beating Oscar Vespasian (10-11) by nk, 9 ran.
Orgilgo Bay (IRE) 9-4 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden after 2 out and no impression in 4th before last, 4th of 5, 6l behind Aerlite Supreme (11-9) at Ballinrobe 2m hdl gd in Apr.
Only Exception (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, pushed along and no impression in moderate 8th 2 out, 8th of 10, 24l behind Gambling Girl (10-7) at Down Royal 2m mrs nov hdl G3 (1) in Nov.
Shabra Charity (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Soon mid-division, pushed along after 2nd, under pressure 5th, 7th approaching 3 out, soon no impression, chased leaders and impeded from before last, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 11, 8l behind Fisher Bridge (10-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gf in Jun.
