mid-division, pushed along in 5th 3 out, ridden in 5th before next, weakened
disputed lead early, headed 3rd and remained prominent, improved to lead after 3 out, ridden and slight mistake next, joined briefly at last, led and stayed on well under pressure run-in
in rear, headway bypassing 4 out, 4th 3 out, went 3rd travelling well 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden in 3rd after last, stayed on well inside final furlong, not reach leaders, never nearer
rear of mid-division, not fluent 1st and briefly pushed along, mistake 4th, improved to track leaders at 10th, pushed along entering straight, ridden and dropped to moderate 7th 3 out, weakened
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
disputed lead, headed 3rd, disputed lead from 6th, led 9th, mistake 3 out and soon headed, soon ridden in close 2nd, disputed lead when not fluent at last, soon headed, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
raced in last, slight mistake 2nd, bad mistake and unseated rider 5th
prominent on outer early, slow jumps 1st and 2nd, mistake 9th and ridden, soon in rear, weakened 12th, trailing when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led from 3rd, joined from 6th, headed 9th, mistake 12th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 4th and no impression next, no extra
Gordon Elliott has won the last two of these though Frontal Assault hasn't been in the best of form since scoring at Galway in October. Dual hurdles winner Glengouly made a winning chasing bow at Thurles then fell when in touch in a Grade 3 at Punchestown while Churchstonewarrior has finished runner-up to three very smart winners and looks certain to get into contention. MUST BE OBEYED had Mahler Mission just under two lengths behind when scoring at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and, though the latter improved next time, Tom Gibney's mare could prove the value here with her allowance.
Aarons Day (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Tracked leader, 3rd at 8th, left 2nd 3 out, travelled well to lead narrowly before 2 out, increased advantage last, kept on well comfortably, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan beating Percy Warner (11-10) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Churchstonewarrior (IRE) 18-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake at 1st, not fluent at 2nd, took closer order in 3rd after 7th, disputed lead from 9th, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 7, 7 1/2l behind Gaillard Du Mesnil (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Flanking Maneuver (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear early, closer in 4th on outer at 3rd, ridden in 4th before 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, 4th of 7, 9 1/2l behind Bob Olinger (11-12) at Naas 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Frontal Assault (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Rear and mistake 1st, improved to tracked leaders after 6th, 6th halfway, lost place before 4 out, ridden in 10th 3 out, kept on one pace from before last, 6th of 18, 13 1/4l behind Carefully Selected (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Glengouly (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in touch in 5th, mistake 6th, still in touch in 5th when fell at 9th, at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Mahler Mission (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Made all, went clear after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Navan 3m Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Tenzing (11-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Walking On Glass (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Towards rear, pushed along and no impression 4 out, some headway in rear of mid-division before 2 out, no threat in straight, 15th of 28, 29 1/4l behind Real Steel (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Darrens Hope (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Led and disputed on outer early, tracked leader and remained close up after 5th, slightly slow 7 out and lost place, ridden in 7th after 5 out, no extra after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Must Be Obeyed (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, led after 1st, not fluent at 9th, asserted before last, ran on well, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 6f Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Wellington Hill (11-5) by 13l, 9 ran.
Francin (FR) 150-1 (11-0) Rear, progress after 10th, improved to 3rd after 11th, mistake and fell 4 out, at Naas 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
