soon held up in 4th, slight mistake 2nd, moderate 3rd 4 out, ridden and no extra after next, weakened
held up in rear, ridden into moderate 3rd before straight, never a danger
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd from 5th, dropped off leaders before 5 out where slight mistake, rear 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 3rd, improved into 2nd at 5th, closed on leader 5 out, disputed travelling well after 3 out, led before straight, clear 2 out, slight mistake last, very easily
led, 5-length advantage halfway, reduced advantage 5 out, ridden and joined after 3 out, headed before straight, under pressure in 2nd before 2 out, soon no extra
SANTONITO has won a bumper on heavy ground and gained his first hurdling success when just outstaying Eye Van, who was receiving 15lb, over 2m3f at Clonmel. He looks certain to be suited by the longer trip and can go in again. Embassy Gardens beat him a nose in a 2m4f bumper at Leopardstown but the selection looks to have made slightly the better progress over hurdles while his stablemate Cardamon Hill made a cracking start over timber on heavy ground at Tramore and should make a bold bid. Meetingofthewaters made a successful handicap debut at Cork but didn't perform as well in more testing conditions at Limerick while Kilbree Warrior also ran poorly on the latter track after a facile victory in a Fairyhouse maiden.
Cardamon Hill (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, 4th after 4th, headway to 2nd on inner after 6th, 3rd at 7th, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, not fluent in 2nd 2 out, led and asserted before last, driven out, won at Tramore 2m 6f mdn hvy in Jan beating Lisnagar Fortune (11-12) by 9l, 14 ran.
Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, progress in 4th at 7th, improved to 3rd after 3 out, no impression on leaders, progress before 2 out, ridden in 4th before last, kept on same pace in moderate 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 10, 16 1/4l behind Optional Mix (11-2) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Santonito (FR) 6-5fav (11-12) Prominent, led and disputed from before 2nd, ridden in 2nd entering straight, disputed again briefly before 2 out, left close 2nd and hampered after 2 out, stayed on to dispute run-in, drifted left, led closing stages, won at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn sft in Dec beating Eye Van (11-4) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Embassy Gardens 3-1jfav (11-12) Tracked leader, took closer order in 2nd before 3rd (normal 4th), bad mistake 3 out, challenged leader last (normal 2 out), no impression on leader 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th closing stages, 4th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Good Land (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.
Kilbree Warrior (IRE) 10-3fav (11-0) Led, 6 lengths clear after 1st, advantage reduced to 3 lengths at halfway, slow jump 4 out, pushed along and headed next, soon ridden and no extra, 7th of 14, 27 3/4l behind Missiee (10-6) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
