soon disputed lead, mistake 4 out, strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed and kept on same pace from before last
raced in 4th, went 3rd before straight, travelling well 2 out, soon on terms, left in front and stayed on well from last
close up, on terms 2 out, mistake and headed from last, kept on same pace
held up in 5th, 4th before straight, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out
soon disputed lead, bad mistake 3 out, weakened from before straight
raced in rear, ridden from 3 out, no impression in 5th and kept on same pace from 2 out
An interesting race for the money and GREY SOLDIER gets the vote to continue his progress. Gordon Elliott's five-year-old, a regular winner on the flat in France, beat a huge field to lose his maiden status over timber on heavy ground at Naas and showed that decent going was no problem with a fine effort in a tough handicap behind Slieveardagh and Castle Anshan at Killarney last time, conceding weight to the first two. Coscorrig is a decent enough hurdler but he's been making his name over fences recently and may not quite have the pace of the selection. Decoy Daddy is another who is doing well over the bigger obstacles though his recent close second to Swiftmarc over timber at Tipperary was a very sound effort and he looks certain to go well. New Phase has won half of his six starts over hurdles and is definitely on the upgrade but the useful Glenstal Abbey has a little to prove after pulling up on heavy going at Clonmel in February as he had won on similar going at Navan previously.
Decoy Daddy (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 5th 4 out, 4th travelling well entering straight, headway to lead 2 out, headed before last, kept on run-in without quite matching winner, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Swiftmarc (11-10) at Tipperary 2m 4f hdl gf.
Magnum Force (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pushed along before 5th, jumped slowly next, well beaten after 3 out, mistake last, 8th of 12, 41l behind Sure Josie Sure (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Grey Soldier (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, closed travelling well from before straight, 3rd 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on well run-in, 3rd of 17, 2 1/4l behind Slieveardagh (10-6) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp hdl gd in May.
Coscorrig (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Led, headed 2nd, led again 6th, headed 4 out, ridden entering straight, no impression leader approaching 2 out where left in lead, kept on same pace from before last, won at Punchestown 2m chs gd in May beating See U Bob (11-8) by 6l, 3 ran.
A New Rising (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Close up, led 5 out, headed after 3 out, renewed effort in 3rd before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 11l behind Isabellareine (11-2) at Kilbeggan 2m hcp hld 80-109 gd.
Ice Skate (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, behind from 4 out, completely tailed off from 3 out, mistake last, last of 15, well behind Tryptronic (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f hcp hdl gs in Apr '08.
Glenstal Abbey (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) In touch towards rear, closed to track leaders 8th, dropped to rear again approaching 5 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Quito De La Roque (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 6f lst nov hdl (4yo+) in Feb, 5 ran.
New Phase (IRE) 13-8 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 4 out, close 4th 3 out, improved to challenge 2 out, soon led, clear before last where mistake, ridden and kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m hdl sft in Feb beating Awkward Moment (11-3) by 3l, 6 ran.
