tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on without threatening winner in 2nd close home
tracked leaders, 3rd at halfway, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, ridden in 2nd approaching last, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
led, took keen hold, ridden 2 out, strongly pressed at last, headed inside final furlong, 3rd and no impression close home
tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along 3 out, fell next
held up in touch in rear, ridden in 6th 2 out, 4th and no impression on leaders at last, kept on same pace
held up in touch in rear, went 5th at 6th, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon no impression
tracked leaders, dropped to rear at 4th, pushed along briefly at 7th, ridden in 6th 3 out, no impression
Winning bumper Au Fleuron was beaten on his hurdles debut when odds-on over 2m4f here but made amends over this trip on a return visit. His stablemate, the four-year-old EBASARI, beat the long odds-on Adamantly Chosen in a Cork maiden a fortnight ago with the remainder in another parish and he's taken to make his age allowance count again. Fellow youngster Un Des Flos has a cracking stayer's pedigree and scored at Nantes in November. Banbridge completed a hat-trick last summer though hasn't made the expected progress but Ardla, who beat a big field of maidens in style here last month, and fellow course and distance winner Easca Peasca, are not out of this.
Au Fleuron (FR) 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along 2 out, ridden before last, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Navan 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec beating Ha D'or (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 21 ran.
Banbridge (IRE) 9-2fav (12-1) Mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, 7th of 26, 14l behind The Greek (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Ardla (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Made all, went clear 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec beating Farmers Lodge (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 21 ran.
Easca Peasca (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway to lead after 2 out, ridden and headed before last, 4th at last, no extra on run-in, 6th of 26, 12l behind The Greek (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Hollow Sound (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, headway on outer to lead after 1f, 2 lengths clear halfway, ridden and headed under 2f out, dropped to 5th 150 yards out, no extra, 9th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Lyra Belacqua (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Jan.
Un Des Flos (FR) (10-7) won at Nantes 2m 1f sft in Nov beating Bou Has (10-10) by 11l, 15 ran.
Ebasari (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway to challenge 3 out, pushed along and led narrowly approaching last, kept on well run-in, won at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Jan beating Adamantly Chosen (12-0) by 3/4l, 22 ran.
