rear of mid-division, 4th before 4th, no impression on principals in 5th before last where slight mistake, weakened
tracked leader in 2nd, led before 3rd, increased lead after 3rd, slow jump at 4th and reduced advantage, jumped slightly left 3 out, pressed entering straight, driven out run-in
towards rear, 5th before 4th, took closer order at 5th, no impression on principals before last where not fluent, no extra
led, headed before 3rd and raced 2nd, mistake 3 out, dropped to 3rd and under pressure after 2 out, no impression, one paced before last
in rear, slightly detached before 4th, detached before 5th, weakened after 2 out, never a factor, tailed off
mid-division, 3rd before 4th, improved to 2nd after 2 out, challenged leader entering straight, kept on run-in, no impression on winner closing stages
Elixir D‘ainay, runner-up in a Naas Grade 1 in 2020, has not been seen since March that year when knocked over at the second last in the Supreme Novices‘ Hurdle won by Shishkin. Stablemate Micro Manage, rated 94 on the Flat, won a Thurles maiden in March last year but has not raced since a couple of runs at the Curragh that summer. TACTICAL AFFAIR only scrambled home to beat Picture Of You at Cork but was conceding the winner 10lb and race fitness gives him an advantage over the Mullins pair. The four-year-old dual Flat winner Whimsy has run well in both starts over timber but has a bit to find.
Action Motion (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden to close 2f out, under pressure in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Rhythm And Tyne (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Dec.
Elixir D'Ainay (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, carried right by leader 3 out, upsides and every chance when hampered again and fell next, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Micro Manage (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Slow into stride and raced towards rear, 12th halfway, progress on outer over 2f out and soon pushed along, ridden and no impression in 5th from 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Earl Of Tyrone (8-13) at Curragh 1m 6f hcp gd in Jun.
Tactical Affair (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Led narrowly, increased advantage before 4th, reduced lead 3 out, asserted after 2 out, not fluent last, kept on, all out closing stages, just held on, won at Cork 2m mdn sft in Nov beating Picture Of You (11-0) by shd, 13 ran.
Cruisin Susan (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, ridden into 8th after 2 out, stayed on to challenge last, pressed leaders briefly run-in, no extra in 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 16, 4 1/4l behind Buachaillbocht (11-6) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp sft in Nov.
Whimsy 10-1 (11-0) In touch, 4th after 4th, improved to 3rd 2 out where not fluent, progress to 2nd before last where no impression on winner, dropped to 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Lombron (10-13) at Thurles 2m mdn Yielding in Nov.
