chased leaders early, bad mistake 5th and dropped to rear, slight mistake next, ridden and no impression 2 out, soon no extra
held up in rear, slow 3rd, 5th from 5th, ridden in moderate 4th 2 out, stayed on in 3rd before last, close 3rd when fell last
led, ridden early straight, joined approaching last, narrowly headed last when fell
chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden entering straight, stayed on to dispute approaching last, narrow advantage when left well clear last, kept on run-in
held up, slight mistake 2nd, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression 2 out, left moderate 3rd and hampered last
chased leader, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, ridden 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, left moderate 2nd and hampered last, kept on one pace
BACARDYS (NAP) has run here four times in bumpers and over hurdles and won three of them, falling in the other. A dual Grade 1 winner over timber, he's so far failed to fulfil his potential over fences but is still young enough to do so and this could be his day. Tower Bridge gained a shock victory in a Grade 1 novices' race over timber on this track in February before fine runs at Cheltenham and Aintree. He was beaten a long way on his chasing bow at Punchestown last month but can surely do better. Gun Digger only won once over hurdles but ran well in decent company and has been staying on well in both starts over slightly shorter since tackling fences. Borderline Chatho has won a bumper and scored over hurdles at Naas despite his pedigree being all about chasing but Whisperinthebreeze has been making too many mistakes.
Another Barney (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, progress to 5th 4 out, under pressure in 6th after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Getabird (11-12) at Punchestown 2m Yielding in Dec.
Bacardys (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Disputed lead early, headed 4th, slow jump 5 out and lost position, mid-division next, pushed along after 3 out, no impression under hands and heels straight, 7th of 18, 20 3/4l behind Discorama (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Nov.
Borderline Chatho (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Made all, travelling well 2 out, pushed along before last, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn Good - Yielding in Nov beating School Boy Hours (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Gun Digger (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, kept on same pace in 2nd final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Chris's Dream (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f Yielding in Dec.
Tower Bridge (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, some headway into 3rd after 8th, pecked slightly 4 out, bad mistake 2 out, no impression in 5th when jumped badly left last, no extra and eased run-in, 5th of 9, dist behind Ben Dundee (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f gd in Nov.
Whisperinthebreeze 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, some slight mistakes, 5th from 4th, pushed along approaching straight and no impression, one pace, 5th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Mortal (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f gd in Dec.
