mid-division, fell 6th
rear of mid-division, headway 4 out, 4th next, soon ridden, weakened straight
mid-division, 8th 3 out, headway on inner entering straight, 4th 2 out, soon ridden in 2nd, 3rd at last, no extra run-in
held up in rear, pushed along in 10th on outer after 3 out, 8th 2 out, went 2nd at last, stayed on well to strongly press winner to line
in rear, mistake 2nd, trailing 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
led and disputed, led from 3 out, ridden after next, strongly pressed run-in, stayed on well run-in, all out
tracked leaders, dropped to 9th and ridden 3 out, 7th next, kept on without threatening to go 4th from last
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, no impression from next
tracked leaders, closer in 3rd 4 out, ridden from next, weakened pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace straight
mid-division, 7th 4 out, headway from next, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no impression before last
led and disputed, headed and ridden 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, trailing 5 out, pulled up before next
Sraid Padraig made a winning debut over fences at Limerick last October but failed to make the expected progress. The Amarillo Kid landed a similar grade event to this at Cork before another good run with a 7lb rise to contend with there a fortnight ago where he was 10 lengths behind Protaras. The winner had just a neck to spare over Perfect Smile with the fancied Dick Dundee in touch when falling at the sixth. The one to take out of the race is the runner-up, who was returning from a long lay-off and will have come on a bundle. LEAD KINDLY LIGHT is handed the vote in a tight handicap as he beat today's rival Far Away So Close by a couple of lengths in this race a year ago. He's generally performed with credit despite a big weight rise and looked to have been primed for a repeat when he returned with a fair run over hurdles, just as he did a year ago. The very progressive Gentleman Duke makes his handicap debut and looks certain to go well along with Musawama, who made all for a very impressive victory at Thurles.
Dick Dundee 5-1 (11-9) Held up, closed into 4th from before 6 out where fell, in a race won by Protaras (10-9) at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-140 sft, 9 ran.
Far Away So Close (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden after 3 out and dropped to 6th entering straight, no extra, 8th of 11, 12l behind City Slicker (10-6) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 0-140.
Perfect Smile (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, closer in 2nd 5 out, good jump to lead 4 out, pressed straight, still marginal lead last, kept on well run-in, headed on line, 2nd of 9, nk behind Protaras (10-9) at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-140 sft.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 4-1 (11-1) Soon mid-division, dropped towards rear 7 out, pushed along from next, ridden in last after 5 out, no impression approaching straight, 7th of 10, 29l behind The Amarillo Kid (10-7) at Cork 2m gd in Oct.
Protaras (USA) 11-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, closer in 3rd approaching straight, challenged in 2nd from 3 out, stayed on well run-in to lead on line, won at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-140 sft beating Perfect Smile (10-12) by nk, 9 ran.
Sraid Padraig (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 7th 4 out, progress from next, ridden in moderate 5th 2 out, kept on one paced, 6th of 17, 16l behind Rich Revival (10-9) at Naas 3m hcp chs sft in Mar.
The Amarillo Kid (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Soon mid-division, closer order after 5 out, 6th approaching straight, moderate 4th and no impression 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Protaras (10-9) at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-140 sft.
Lead Kindly Light (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway into 6th entering straight, ridden 2 out, no impression last, kept on one pace, 5th of 16, 8l behind Mrs Mac Veale (10-13) at Naas 2m mares hcp hdl 8Evens23.
The Shepherd King (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd halfway, headway to dispute 2 out, pushed along and slight advantage when left clear last, kept on well run-in, won at Navan 2m beg chs beating Hit The Headlines (11-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Gentleman Duke (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd and disputed from 5th, headed 8th until disputed again 2 out, ridden approaching last where led, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m beg chs gd beating Raise Hell (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
On The Way Out (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, closer in 5th 4 out, soon ridden, 2nd entering straight, no extra and dropped to 3rd when fell last, in a race won by Tinakellylad (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130, 13 ran.
Musawama (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Made all, jumped well, 4 lengths advantage approaching 4 out, asserted after 2 out and clear before last, kept on well, easily, won at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-109 gd beating Drumlister (11-10) by 14l, 10 ran.
Flemross (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, 5th 4 out, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out, 9th of 15, 32l behind Wilde Sapphire (10-12) at Wexford 2m hcp hdl 80-109 sft.
