tracked leaders, ridden in moderate 6th 3 out, no impression
led, headed before 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 5th 2 out, no impression
always behind, no impression from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before last
rear of mid-division, pushed along briefly at 5th, reminder 7th, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, improved to dispute lead 3 out, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, moderate 2nd and mistake at last, soon dropped to moderate 4th and no impression
mid-division, not fluent at 6th, slight mistake next, headway into 3rd at 8th, improved to dispute lead before 3 out, pushed along and led entering straight, ridden before last, slow jump and mistake at last, stayed on well inside final furlong
mid-division, under pressure 4th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, under pressure 9th, no impression from 3 out
mid-division, closer in 5th 4 out, 4th next, ridden in 4th 2 out, went moderate 3rd after last, moderate 2nd inside final furlong, dropped to 3rd close home
always behind, under pressure 7th, behind and pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake at 6th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead before 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no impression on winner before last, moderate 4th after last, kept on without threatening winner to regain 2nd close home
PENCILFULLOFLEAD (NAP) bumped into a very smart recruit in Asterion Forlonge at Naas last month. The winner has subsequently won a Grade 1 so Gordon Elliott's charge should go one better. Hotel Du Nord has produced the occasional decent effort but pulled up at Fairyhouse last time and Et Dite looks much more of a threat. Willie Mullins' mare, a dual bumper winner in France, has taken her time to find her feet over timber but had the remainder well beaten when runner-up to Darrens Hope over 2m4f here last time. The champion trainer also runs Vent D'Automne, though he ran poorly on his debut over timber at Gowran last March but easy Roscommon bumper winner Osmotic, a stable companion of the selection, is likely to prove much better than he showed on his hurdling bow at Fairyhouse.
Ballyadam Destiny 66-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders, 7th approaching halfway, some slight mistakes, one pace from before 2 out, stumbled last, 9th of 22, 30 1/4l behind Le Musigny (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn sft in Jan.
Hotel Du Nord (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, weakened, trailing and pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hvy in Nov.
I Don't Get It (IRE) 100-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 13, 28 1/2l behind Lady Heath (11-5) at Down Royal 2m sft in Jan.
Major Jim (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 7th 4 out, weakened from next, 10th of 14, dist behind Getaway John (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f mdn gd in Jan.
Native Gold (IRE) Gold Well gelding out of Native House.
Osmotic (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, dropped to 5th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind and pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 7f mdn hvy in Dec.
Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st and mistake 2nd, slight mistake 4th and briefly pushed along, went 2nd entering straight, ridden 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 21, 10l behind Asterion Forlonge (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Jan.
Spanish Leather (IRE) Evens (12-2) Chsd ldr in 2nd, 1l 2nd 1/2way, cl 3rd when mstk 5out, regained 2nd bef 2out, 1l 2nd bef 2out where fell, at Ballysteen 3m Yielding in Apr.
Thunderosa (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, 6th halfway, pushed along after 3 out and no extra from next, 6th of 9, 28l behind Braeside (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f mdn hvy in Jan.
Vent D'Automne (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake at 1st, closer in 6th 3 out, soon ridden, 7th 2 out, no impression, 9th of 19, dist behind Voix Des Tiep (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Mar.
Home Hunter (IRE) Milan gelding out of Strong Irish.
Runadrum (IRE) 125-1 (11-2) Waited with, raced in 14th early, 12th from 6th, under pressure from 8th, soon no impression, not fluent 2 out, one pace, 8th of 16, dist behind Sempo (11-12) at Thurles 2m 7f mdn Good - Yielding in Feb.
Et Dite (FR) 5-6fav (11-7) Led narrowly, headed 2nd and chased leader, slight mistake 5 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, close up and every chance last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Darrens Hope (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Cala Di Volpe (FR) 100-1 (11-9) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 3 out, no impression before next, stayed on run-in to go 4th last strides, 4th of 18, 27l behind Column Of Fire (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
