soon disputed lead at slow pace, led before 3 out, pushed along between last 2, pressed approaching last, soon joined, rider lost whip and kept on well without quite matching winner closing stages
led early, soon joined and disputed lead at slow pace, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along straight and headed before 3 out, soon dropped to 4th and no extra, not fluent 2 out
tracked leaders at slow pace, took keen hold, closed and slight mistake 3 out, pushed along from 2 out, challenged approaching last, soon on terms, led and stayed on best close home
soon tracked leaders at slow pace, not fluent 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
soon tracked leaders at slow pace, some slight mistakes, no impression 3 out, soon no extra
soon tracked leaders at slow pace, weakened in last approaching straight, soon eased, completely tailed off
VICTORY MILL landed a point-to-point in March and made a successful hurdling debut in testing conditions at Fairyhouse when Gars Bar Dine was behind. He was fortunate that day as he was left in front at the last but it was still a good performance and there's more to come. Conal scored between the flags and looked impressive when landing a maiden hurdle at Punchestown. He can't have been right when well beaten at Thurles last month and shouldn't be dismissed on that evidence. Last Goodbye landed a bumper and a maiden hurdle in the autumn though meets better opposition here as will Organisedconfusion, who hasn't won since the Irish Grand National in 2011. Caesar's Song has gone even longer without a victory having had a five-year break since landing a bumper in 2010.
Victory Mill (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Chased leaders early, mid-division in 8th halfway, progress into 4th before 3 out, closer in 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, 1-length down and left in lead last, hampered and soon pressed, kept on well closing stages, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec beating Ah Littleluck (11-4) by 4l, 16 ran.
Conal (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Led 1st, not fluent 3 out, pushed along and headed approaching straight, soon dropped to rear, no extra, eased, last of 6, dist behind Seabass (11-3) at Thurles 2m 6f Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Last Goodbye (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, not fluent 4 out, pushed along from next, challenged on inner approaching straight, soon led, not fluent last, stayed on best run-in, won at Wexford 2m mdn Yielding in Oct beating Crazyheart (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Organisedconfusion (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Soon raced in moderate 3rd, closer order before 4th, dropped towards rear approaching 3 out, kept on well without threatening from 2 out,, 2nd of 8, 5l behind De Name Escapes Me (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Gars Bar Dine (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Held up in last, no impression in last 3 out, no impression in moderate 4th from last, 4th of 5, dist behind Min (11-0) at Punchestown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Caesar's Song (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Towards rear, 14th halfway, dropped to last over 6f out, detached 5 1/2f out, completely tailed off, last of 15, dist behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 7f hcp gf in Aug.
