Verdict

FLAME BEARER (NAP) completed a hat-trick over hurdles, including a Grade 2, when trained by Pat Doyle and has joined Willie Mullins after a cracking effort behind the high-class State Man in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. Journey With Me had looked one to follow when winning his first two starts over hurdles but fell at the last when fading in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and two out on his chasing debut at Gowran last month. Mars Harper has come up against smart winners in his two starts over the bigger obstacles while the selection's stablemate Ramillies contested Grade 1 races in his last two starts over timber in the spring. Macs Charm completed a hat-trick over timber early this year despite his pedigree being all about chasing.

Formwatch

Capilano Bridge (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd halfway, disputed lead from 4 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, 4th and ridden before last, no extra run-in, 6th of 25, 8 1/4l behind A Great View (10-9) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.

Carrig Sam (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, fell 6th, at Punchestown 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.

Flame Bearer (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, slight mistake 5th, 2nd halfway, travelled well to dispute 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, ridden and headed entering straight, under pressure in 4th before last, stayed on run-in to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 7l behind State Man (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.

Journey With Me (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 4 out, not fluent next, pushed along and no impression in 3rd when fell 2 out, at Gowran Park 2m 4f hvy in Nov.

Macs Charm (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out and rear of mid-division after next, soon no extra, behind and pulled up before last, at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.

Mars Harper 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 2nd halfway, disputed 4 out, ridden in 2nd after 3 out, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, slight mistake last, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Midnight Run (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Nov.

Ramillies (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, dropped to rear and briefly pushed along at 9th, ridden after 3 out, no impression, 6th of 11, dist behind The Nice Guy (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.

The Dasher Conway (IRE) 125-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, mistake at 1st, never a factor, 10th of 15, dist behind Fil Dor (11-4) at Navan 2m 1f sft in Nov.

Limerick Lace (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, 7th and no impression after 2 out, kept on run-in, never a factor, 5th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Hollow Games (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding in Nov.

Low Mileage (IRE) 150-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden and no extra 4 out, 17th of 22, dist behind Absolute Notions (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 3f mdn Yielding in Nov.