close up, dropped to rear before 11th, ridden 5 out, detached before 4 out, no extra thereafter
in rear, steady headway home turn, asked for effort 4 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, asked for effort 4 out, hampered by faller after 4 out, no extra soon after
in rear, not fluent 10th, steady headway when fell 4 out
close up, led 2nd, asked for effort when joined before 3 out, rallied and took clear lead before last, kept on run-in, just held on
led, fell 2nd
chased leader, smooth headway and disputed lead 3 out, ridden soon after, 2 lengths down last, kept on well run-in, just denied
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, no impression and one paced soon after
Izzy's Champion has won three times here but ran poorly at the beginning of the month. Hold Onto The Line ended last season winning two novice handicaps over hurdles on this track and looks well enough treated for his debut over fences. Irish raider Well Joey is inconsistent but would have a chance on his penultimate run at Thurles while six-times winning hurdler Taxmeifyoucan has only had four starts over fences and should be capable of better. Sandy Thompson's horses are flying and MASSINI MAN has only been raised just 3lb for a successful reappearance over the track and trip so gets the nod to complete a double.
Ferocious (IRE) 200-1 (12-0) Always towards rear, tailed off from 4 out, 17th of 23, dist behind Latenightpass (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) gs in Apr.
Well Joey (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division best, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, 7th of 15, 21 1/2l behind Difficult Decision (11-3) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Taxmeifyoucan (IRE) 14-1 (11-13) Held up in touch towards rear, not fluent 11th, outpaced 13th, well beaten 3 out, went 4th last stride, 4th of 6, 15 1/2l behind Big Changes (10-9) at Ayr 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Jimmy Rabbitte (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, pressed leader 2 out, soon pushed along and led narrowly approaching the last, headed after the last, no extra run in, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Some Reign (12-0) at Hexham 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Hold Onto The Line (IRE) 10-3fav (10-11) Prominent, led 7th, ridden 2 out, stayed on, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Petite Rhapsody (10-0) by nk, 7 ran.
Fever Roque (FR) 15-2 (11-13) Prominent when mistake 1st, chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Tfou (12-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Massini Man 15-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 11th, led before 4 out, ridden between last two, good jump last, strongly pressed and driven run-in, all out, gamely, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Shanbally Rose (10-5) by ns, 5 ran.
Izzy's Champion (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Waited with in rear, hit 5 out, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, went remote 4th run-in, 4th of 5, 15 1/2l behind Budarri (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (5) gs in Nov.
