waited with, progress going well from 3 out, challenged next, led before last, stayed on well run-in
chased leaders, closed but niggled along from 3 out, challenged next, not getting to winner and kept on from before last
towards rear, still last after 3 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
tracked leaders, not always fluent and niggled along at stages, 2nd before 4 out, slight mistake and ridden next, no extra into straight and eased when beaten
led, attempted to assert after 3 out, strongly pressed next, soon headed and no impression, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, lost place after 3 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
waited with towards rear, closed after 3 out, no impression in moderate 4th and kept on from next
prominent, lost place after 3 out, soon no extra
Four short-priced favourites and two rank outsiders have been successful in the six renewals. Winning point-to-pointer BACK IN FOCUS looked an exceptional talent when landing the Grade 2 Prestige Novices' Hurdle on heavy ground at Haydock in February of last year but hasn't been seen since finishing tailed off at Aintree a couple of months later. There's obviously been something amiss but that's rarely a problem for one from Willie Mullins' yard and he can start making up for lost time. Whispering Hills is going along nicely and defied several sticky jumps to complete a double at Kilbeggan last month. He looks the one to take advantage if the favourite doesn't come up to scratch while the lightly-raced and progressive Civena can also fight it out for a place. Beckett Rock appears to have gone backwards since being sent chasing and can do better over timber.
Aughnacurraveel (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, 17th of 24, 45l behind Truckers Delight (9-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f ext hcp hdl gd in May '11.
Back In Focus (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 19, well behind Saint Are (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr '11.
Beckett Rock (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Victrix Gale (9-13) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp chs, 16 ran.
Whispering Hills (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Prominent, some slightly slow jumps, ridden after 4 out, on terms approaching 3 out, soon led, pressed 2 out, gained upper hand when mistake last, kept on well run-in, won at Kilbeggan 3m nov hdl sft in Jun beating Passage Vendome (11-10) by 2l, 14 ran.
Coole Avenue (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 6th, on terms 3 out, soon headed and no extra straight, 13th of 18, 43l behind First Impressions (11-2) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hdl 8Evens16.
Magdoodle (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent, slight mistake 3rd, dropped to 3rd and ridden approaching 3 out, no impression from before next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Whatever Jacksays (11-2) at Wexford 3m hcp hdl 80-109 gf in Apr.
Bourbon Ellie (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, 14th and headway on outer after 4 out, 3rd 2 out, left in lead after last, kept on well, won at Cork 3m mdn hdl beating Wontbelongnow (11-5) by 2l, 23 ran.
Civena (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway into 3rd 5 out, improved to lead after 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden in lead before 2 out, challenged last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Bellewstown 3m mdn hdl sft beating Zadarska (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
