waited with towards rear, closer in 4th 3 out, pushed along before straight, 3rd 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on into moderate 2nd on line
in rear, dropped behind 4 out, completely tailed off
led, hit 3rd, joined approaching 5 out, headed into straight, dropped to 4th and no extra 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, a bit untidy 4th, pushed along in 3rd before straight, chased winner and no impression 2 out, not fluent last, dropped to moderate 3rd on line
prominent, on terms approaching 5 out, led into straight, went on under pressure from 2 out, stayed on well
chased leaders, reminder before 4th, ridden in 6th approaching 3 out, soon no extra
prominent, dropped to 5th 3 out, soon no extra
Lord Gale finished a couple of lengths in front of stablemate VESPER BELL in a Punchestown bumper last May and both have made encouraging debuts over timber. The former's second to Dont Back Down here on New Year's Day reads well and he'll definitely improve for the run but Ruby Walsh has chosen Vesper Bell, a good second to Star Neuville at Leopardstown, and his mount should be good enough. Griesenau needs a much stiffer test of stamina than he got at Navan last time and may do best of the remainder.
Griesenau (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden in 8th and no impression 4 out, kept on one pace, 10th of 25, 38l behind Local Celebrity (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl in Dec.
Gurrawn Vic (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching straight, 14th of 16, 32l behind Ahyaknowyerself (11-9) at Wexford 2m 2f N H flat gd in Jul.
Kennoway (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Led, joined halfway, headed before 3 out, driven along approaching straight and no impression in 5th 2 out, no extra and kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 10l behind Woodville Lady (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl sft.
Lord Gale (IRE) 4-6fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 2nd, went 2nd travelling best entering straight, pushed along to challenge and briefly disputed last, narrowly headed run-in, kept on same pace under pressure, not quite match winner, 2nd of 6, nk behind Dont Back Down (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hdl sft.
Vesper Bell (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, driven along entering straight and soon no impression on winner, kept on under pressure run-in, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Star Neuville (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Dec.
Troubled (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden in moderate 7th 3 out, weakened, 10th of 16, 42l behind Toostrong (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn hdl sft in Dec.
Akatara (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Mid-division, reminders from 6th, moderate 6th 4 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 33l behind A Country Girl (11-4) at Tramore 2m mdn hdl sft in Dec.
