chased leader in 2nd, pushed along and dropped to 3rd 3f out, soon ridden and no extra, dropped to 5th inside final furlong
made all, pressed from 2f out, ridden from 1f out and kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, comfortably
mid-division on inner, 3rd from 7f out and improved into 2nd 3f out, closed to challenge 2f out, ridden 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong
raced in rear and detached over 7f out, soon went moderate 5th, kept on into moderate 4th inside final furlong
raced in 5th, reminders from 7f out and soon went 4th, no impression from 3f out, ridden in moderate 3rd over 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders in 3rd on outer, pushed along and dropped to 5th 7f out, soon weakened, completely tailed off
Winning point-to-pointer Dounikos showed nothing in his first two bumper starts but made Middlebrow pull out the stops at Ballinrobe in May and looks the type to go on to better things when sent hurdling. BRIDGE NATIVE has done his best on good ground as he did when runner-up at Tramore last week when All's Quiet was behind. With conditions likely to be in his favour and a fitness advantage, he can go one better. Nerual's three runs have all been on heavy going so it remains to be seen how she acts on quicker ground.
All's Quiet (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, progress into 5th 5f out, ridden in moderate 5th 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 8, 5l behind Ballyegan Hero (12-0) at Tramore 2m gd in Oct.
Dounikos (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Held up, 7th halfway, progress into 4th 3f out, 3rd 2f out, ridden to close entering straight, challenged 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, kept on, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Middlebrow (12-0) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f sft in May.
Bridge Native (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 6f out, ridden and joined 2f out, regained lead 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Ballyegan Hero (12-0) at Tramore 2m gd in Oct.
Ivy Nook (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 9th 3f out, no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 18, 27l behind Coolmeen Hill (12-0) at Clonmel 2m 1f gd in Sep.
Nerual (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 3f out, under pressure in 5th 2f out, stayed on into 3rd under 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 15, 11 1/2l behind The Green Lady (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Yielding in Apr.
Sureyouknow (IRE) Vinnie Roe filly out of Kahysera.
