prominent, chased winner 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, no extra from after 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place and no impression from before straight, soon no extra
mid-division early, closed from before straight, soon chased leaders, no impression from 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division early, chased leaders before straight, one pace from after 2 out
tracked leaders, effort before straight, no extra from after 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along from 3 out, no extra next
held up, soon towards rear, progress from before straight, soon chased leaders, kept on same pace without threatening from after 2 out
mid-division early, no extra from before 2 out
held up, soon towards rear, progress to chase leaders straight, soon no impresion, slight mistake last, one pace
soon mid-division, closed to chase leaders before straight, one pace from after 2 out
held up, no impression from before straight
held up, soon towards rear, closed from before straight, soon chased leaders, no impression from 2 out, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner closing stages
soon led, went on from before 2 out, soon asserted and stayed on well
held up, soon towards rear, some headway 3 out, no extra from next
Having finished second on seven occasions, ICARIO finally got his head in front at Down Royal two weeks ago. This wouldn’t be the strongest of novice handicap hurdles and Davy Russell’s mount, who is certainly consistent, could defy top weight and stablemate Pete So High as well as Whisperinthebreeze. The latter is very progressive, however, and rates a danger while Manger Et Trotter, Golden Jewel and Quamino are others who won last time. Like An Open Book won at Clonmel and Thurles in the autumn but hasn’t raced since December and Black Key and Market’s Field are returning from an even longer absence. Chesterfield King has improved since the turn of the year but was due to run here yesterday over a longer trip.
Whisperinthebreeze 6-4fav (11-11) Disputed lead, led from 3rd and made rest, slight mistake 4th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m mdn sft in Feb beating Crezic (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 21 ran.
All's Quiet (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Towards rear, badly hampered after 1f, soon dropped to rear, 11th halfway, progress over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened under 2f out, 11th of 13, 26 1/2l behind Pivot Bridge (10-5) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Mar.
Manger Et Trotter (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway to track leaders before 3 out, disputed lead and slight mistake 2 out, ridden to lead last, under pressure and kept on run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Chris's Dream (11-4) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Black Key 11-10fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead 5 out, led 3 out, joined and ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression on winner, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Venezia (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn gd in Jun.
Pete So High (GER) 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway on outer to lead entering straight, soon edged right and bumped rival, bumped by rival 2 out, soon ridden and headed last, under pressure and kept on well run-in to lead on line, won at Limerick 2m hvy in Mar beating Randalls Ur Poet (11-0) by shd, 5 ran.
On The Mend (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, moderate 5th and pushed along after next, no impression, 5th of 21, 15 1/2l behind I Am Sailing (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar.
Play With The Wind (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, moderate 9th 3 out, pushed along in moderate 7th after next, moderate 6th at last, stayed on well run-in, 6th of 21, 17l behind I Am Sailing (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar.
Golden Jewel (IRE) 5-1cfav (10-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, improved to lead and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, went clear run-in, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Naas 2m hcp sft in Feb beating Stowaway Forever (11-12) by 6l, 15 ran.
Love And Wishes (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Mid-division, mistake 4 out, headway approaching straight, no impression in 4th after 2 out, not fluent last and no extra run-in, 4th of 9, 14 1/2l behind Chesterfield King (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Frankiefiveangels (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Soon led, joined from 2 out, headed into straight, soon lost place and no impression, 5th of 16, 18 1/4l behind Call A Cab (11-3) at Punchestown 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Corri Lindo (FR) 9-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders, close 6th 3 out, headway into 2nd travelling well before 2 out, disputed lead when mistake 2 out and soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Luckyinmilan (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hvy in Jan.
Market's Field (IRE) 11-8fav (10-13) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden after 3 out, no extra in 4th after 2 out, 4th of 6, 30l behind Sir Ector (10-6) at Sligo 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Aug.
Quamino (GER) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear of mid-division, headway on outer approaching straight, went 2nd after 2 out and challenged last, soon led, pushed out and kept on well run-in, won at Wexford 2m hcp hvy in Mar beating Soul Season (10-10) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Western Ruler (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on outer, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, 4th 2 out, no impression, 6th of 14, 36 1/2l behind Best Behavior (11-9) at Naas 2m 3f mdn hvy in Feb.
Make It Hurrah (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, 12th early, closed to chase leaders when slight mistake 7th, kept on same pace from after 2 out, 3rd of 15, 10 1/4l behind Icario (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn hvy in Mar.
Icario (FR) 13-8 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th early, moderate 7th approaching 5th, chased leaders in 5th from next, closed to challenge from before 2 out where left in lead, stayed on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn hvy in Mar beating Free Ranger (10-9) by 3 3/4l, 15 ran.
Chesterfield King (IRE) 4-1fav (10-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, 3rd at last, stayed on well run-in, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Grand Partner (11-6) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Mar.
Like An Open Book (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Soon towards rear, headway to chase leaders but no impression when slight mistake last, one pace, 7th of 14, 16 1/2l behind Hardback (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Babanango (FR) 3-1fav (10-13) Held up towards rear, ridden into 8th after 2 out, stayed on into 3rd last, no impression run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 4 1/4l behind Dundrum Lad (11-12) at Galway 2m hcp sft in Sep.
Montauk Flyer (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on outer, pushed along and lost place from 3 out, no extra and pulled up before next, at Limerick 2m 3f mdn hvy in Dec.
