tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and headway after 3 out, disputed briefly next, soon ridden and no impression on winner after last, no extra
tracked leaders, disputed briefly 3rd, mistake 6th, pushed along and no impression in 4th approaching straight, no extra, weakened
tracked leaders, close 3rd when hampered 7th, headway to lead briefly 3 out, ridden and led after next, 1 length advantage last, stayed on well run-in
led or disputed lead, slow 3rd, pushed along and headed before 2 out, no impression in 3rd approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd and mistake next, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression when mistake 4 out, no extra and pulled up after next
prominent and disputed lead, jumped left and bumped rival 7th, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no extra approaching straight and pulled up before 2 out
always rear, never a factor, soon detached, no extra from 5 out, behind and pulled up after 3 out
This is a very classy hunters' event with FOXROCK winning his first five hunter-chases before pulling up in the Irish National. He won this a year ago when trained by Ted Walsh but faces very stiff opposition this time from two more former very useful chasers in Gilgamboa and Venitien De Mai, who fought out a tremendous battle at Down Royal last month with the former just coming out on top. My Murphy is another with strong form in handicaps though he was beaten by Venitien De Mai at Lingstown in November but Gordon Elliott's Ourmanmassini beat Gilgamboa narrowly at Mainstown last month so has to be considered.
Foxrock (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Soon mid-division, mistake 8th and not fluent 15th, no extra from 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Venitien De Mai (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Prominent and disputed early, chased leader from 2nd, improved to dispute after 3 out, ridden before next where narrowly headed, close 2nd and slight mistake last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Gilgamboa (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Gilgamboa (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, improved to challenge before 2 out, ridden to narrow lead 2 out, kept on best from last, won at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec beating Venitien De Mai (12-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
My Murphy (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Ld/disp, ld bef 8th & 2l adv frm 3out, red adv bef last where landed faster, ko best flat, won at Templenacarriga 3m hvy in Dec beating Rue Hill (11-11) by nk, 9 ran.
Quarry Rua (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Ld/disp, close 2nd on outer 1/2way, on terms in 1l 2nd when fell 5out, at Turtulla 3m Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Wilcosdiana (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) Ld, mstks 4th & 8th, went 4l clr aftr 2out, hdd bef last, no ch with easy wnr flat, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Sydney Paget (12-2) at Aghabullogue 3m hvy in Jan.
Tj Goodtymes (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 4th frm 5th, chall ldr 4out & ev ch therafter until 2nd bef last, no ex flat, ko, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Timewaitsfornoone (12-2) at Aghabullogue 3m hvy in Jan.
Ourmanmassini (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Ch ldrs, 4th 1/2way, 2nd app str, ld last, strongly pressed run-in, all out, won at Mainstown 3m sft in Dec beating Gilgamboa (11-6) by hd, 5 ran.
