chased leader in 2nd, not fluent 2nd and again not fluent 6 out, dropped to rear from 4 out and soon ridden, again not fluent 3 out and soon no extra, kept on into moderate 3rd run-in
led, not fluent 4 out, pressed and pushed along before 2 out, soon joined and headed before last, ridden and no extra run-in
raced in rear, improved into 2nd from 4 out, pushed along and further progress to dispute lead before 2 out, led before last and kept on best under pressure run-in
raced in 3rd, pushed along from 3 out and soon no impression, dropped to last run-in
The filly MERI DEVIE has Grade 1 form to her credit having finished a close third in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown in April. Her latest second place in a Grade A handicap at Fairyhouse was another cracking effort and her allowance can see her home. Willie Mullins also runs Dolciano Dici, who hasn't run since landing a three year old hurdle at Bordeaux in April last year. Duca De Thaix, a winning bumper and hurdler in France, finished behind the selection in a Naas Grade 3 last month though that was his first start for Gordon Elliott and there's much more to come. Us And Them beat a huge field at Cork on his hurdling bow and followed up on very testing ground at Punchestown so he's another to consider in an interesting contest.
Prospectus 13-2 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden in 7th 2 out, no impression, 8th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Oscar Knight (10-6) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Us And Them (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Led, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and pressed before last, joined and disputed last, rallied well to lead again run-in, kept on well closing stages, won at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec beating Trainwreck (11-3) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Duca De Thaix (FR) 11-4 (10-13) Held up in last, good headway travelling well into 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and dropped to 3rd at last, weakened and dropped to 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 8l behind Early Doors (10-13) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Meri Devie (FR) 13-2 (10-7) Raced in 10th early, slightly impeded 3 out, soon headway on outer, chased winner and slight mistake last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 20, 2 3/4l behind Davids Charm (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Balakani (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Reluctant to race and detached at start, closed up on field before 2nd, under pressure and detached at 9th, weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Cork 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Dolciano Dici (FR) (10-7) won at Bordeaux Le Bouscat 2m sft in Apr beating Nurmi (10-10) by shd, 10 ran.
