waited with, soon raced in 5th, in touch in rear before 4 out, chased leaders and disputed 3rd before 2 out, 4th and one pace from last
tracked leaders, soon disputed 3rd, a little keen, slight mistake 4th, effort in 2nd straight, one pace closing stages and dropped to 3rd near line
led, not fluent 3 out and joined, headed before straight, no extra approaching 2 out, soon weakened
soon tracked leaders on inner, soon disputed 3rd, pushed along before straight, stayed on well run-in, 2nd near line, not reach winner
waited with, bad mistake 1st, soon in rear, closed up approaching 4 out, soon 5th, pushed along 3 out, no extra in last before straight, soon weakened
prominent in 2nd, a little keen, on terms from 3 out, led before straight, pushed along from 2 out, stayed on well under pressure run-in to hold on at the finish
HONEYSUCKLE is unbeaten in eight starts, including five on this track. She won this very easily a year ago when beating Bacardys nine lengths then completed a hat-trick of Grade 1 victories at Leopardstown and Cheltenham. She's impossible to oppose though Fury Road looked a likely winner at the highest level when landing a Grade 2 at Punchestown with ease. Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Ronald Pump will ensure there's no hanging around and is hopefully over his last-flight fall at Navan while Beacon Edge is progressing very well, though takes on much stronger opposition than when landing a Galway Grade 3.
Bacardys (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway on outside going well home bend, went 3rd last, hung left briefly, stayed on but no impression on front pair, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Lisnagar Oscar (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Beacon Edge (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Chased leader in 2nd, pressed leader after 3 out, disputed 2 out, led before last, shaken up briefly last, clear run-in, easily, won at Galway 2m 5f (1) sft in Oct beating Minella Melody (11-2) by 4 3/4l, 4 ran.
Cracking Smart (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Prominent, soon 2nd, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along before straight, soon lost place and no impression, fell 2 out, at Navan 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Ronald Pump 9-4fav (11-7) Waited with, soon raced in 6th, took closer order to chase leaders approaching 6th, effort on inner straight, switched right before 2 out, switched left between last 2, 4th and fell last, at Navan 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Supasundae 18-1 (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead after 3rd, not fluent 5 out, pushed along and joined 2 out, soon headed and ridden, dropped to rear and no extra before last, last of 5, 12 1/4l behind Abacadabras (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) hvy in Nov.
Honeysuckle 9-4 (11-5) Always prominent, shaken up to lead on inside turning in, soon ridden, big jump last, stayed under pressure flat, held on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar beating Benie Des Dieux (11-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Fury Road (IRE) 4-11fav (11-10) Made all, raced in clear lead, reduced advantage from 4 out, not fluent last and soon pushed along, ridden and kept on well close home, won at Punchestown 2m 6f (1) hvy in Nov beating Dewcup (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
