soon towards rear, no impression 8th, pulled up before 2 out
waited with towards rear, fell 8th
waited with, moderate 2nd from before 4 out (normal 5 out), niggled along to close from before 2 out, gained narrow lead from before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in to hold off renewed effort of runner-up near finish
chased leaders, hampered 7th, moderate 3rd approaching straight, no impression and kept on same pace from 3 out
pecked 1st, prominent, fell 7th
prominent, dropped to moderate 3rd from before 4 out (normal 5 out), no extra under pressure approaching straight, kept on same pace
waited with, no impression from 8th
attempted to make all, a bit awkward 6th, clear 8th, reduced lead from before 2 out, just headed before last, rallied well run-in, not quite get back to winner
All eyes will be on BOSTON BOB, who won the Grade 1 novice hurdle on this card a year ago before scoring at Leopardstown in January and finishing runner-up to Brindisi Breeze in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He's entered in two Grade 1's at Leopardstown over Christmas and it will be a massive shock if he's beaten on his chasing bow. You Must Know Me is another potentially useful chaser and though his form is nowhere near that of the selection he's the type to win races this season and looks the logical danger. Knockgraffon King unseated his rider on his debut over fences but jumped round safely at Fairyhouse and can prove next best.
Ample Appeal (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Always rear, blundered 6th, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind Marito (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs hvy in Nov.
Boland's Corner (GER) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, dropped to rear soon after halfway, no extra from 5 out, tailed off, last of 16, well behind Marito (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs hvy in Nov.
Boston Bob (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to chase winner before last, stayed on under pressure, no impression last 50 yards, 2nd of 20, 2l behind Brindisi Breeze (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Competitive Edge (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) 2nd to halfway, 3rd 6 out, blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Mikael D'Haguenet (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs hvy, 6 ran.
Dont Back Down (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders in 3rd, slightly hampered 3 out and no extra in 5th approaching straight, 6th of 15, 14l behind Ros Brin (11-2) at Clonmel 2m beg chs.
Knockgraffon King (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led and disputed, ridden in 2nd entering straight, close up 2 out, soon no extra, 5th of 7, 16l behind Mount Benbulben (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chs sft.
Royalor (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, never a factor, 8th of 15, well behind Dream Function (11-5) at Clonmel 2m 3f beg chs.
You Must Know Me (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Always prominent, led from 3rd, stayed on well in straight and clear when slow last, easily, won at Tipperary 3m mdn hdl sft in Apr beating Shrapnel (11-4) by 11l, 20 ran.
