disputed early, tracked leader after 3rd, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, pushed along after next, no extra before last, kept on one pace
disputed early, led after 3rd, slight mistake 7th, pushed along to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, easily
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, no extra next, kept on one pace, weakened from last
tracked leaders, slight mistake 7th, 4th halfway, 3rd and no impression on leaders before 2 out where slight mistake, soon ridden and no extra, kept on one pace
held up in rear, soon behind, trailing before halfway, completely tailed off
held up towards rear, slight mistake 7th, remote 5th halfway, no impression before 6 out, weakened 4 out, completely tailed off
David Christie and Barry O'Neill won this last year and FERNS LOCK looks one of the brightest hunter prospects around having followed a very impressive victory between the flags with an equally facile success in a Fairyhouse hunter-chase. He's up against one of the leading hunters in Billaway, who won the championship event at Cheltenham in March, but the latter generally needs his first run back as he did when beaten in this a year ago. Lord Schnitzel is a five-times point-to-point winner and Coastal Tiep has returned from a long break to perform well behind the smart Vaucelet between the flags at Portrush and in a hunters' event at Down Royal.
Billaway (IRE) 11-8 (12-0) Disputed and not fluent 1st, led 2nd, joined before 7th where bad mistake and headed, close up again 5 out, ridden to dispute entering straight, narrow lead after 2 out, joined and mistake last, soon led, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m Good - Yielding in Apr beating Vaucelet (12-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Ferns Lock 9-4 (11-4) Made all, 2 lengths clear halfway, extended advantage after 4 out, travelling well in lead 2 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Fairyhouse 3m sft in Nov beating Its On The Line (12-0) by 12l, 6 ran.
Lord Schnitzel (IRE) Evens (12-2) Rcd 4th, clsr in 3rd bef 4out, prog to cl 2nd bef 2out, no ex in 4l 2nd bef last, ko flat, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Its On The Line (12-2) at Turtulla 3m sft in Jan.
Coastal Tiep (FR) 20-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, close 3rd 2 out (usual 3 out) and soon ridden to challenge, no impression in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 7 1/4l behind Vaucelet (12-0) at Down Royal 3m sft in Dec.
Daicheadacuig (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Alw in rr, 10th & last 1/2way, wknd & lost tch in 10th aftr 4out, cto from 3out, 6th of 10, dist behind The Storyteller (11-6) at Quakerstown 3m Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Heroes Of Renown (IRE) 10-1 (12-2) Mid-div, prog from 8th, 2nd from 9th, 4l 2nd 5out, 6l 3rd when mstk 3out, mod 3rd 2out, wknd, 3rd of 6, dist behind Rocky's Howya (12-2) at Aghabullogue 3m Soft - Heavy in Jan.
