in touch, not fluent at 4th, under pressure and weakened before 7th, pulled up 3 out
chased leaders, slightly hampered at 1st and lost place, mistake at 3rd, headway before 3 out, pushed along after 3 out, improved to lead after 2 out, ridden and asserted run-in, comfortably
rear, headway at 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon niggled along in 5th, progress to 4th before 2 out where not fluent, ridden and kept on to 2nd closing stages, not trouble winner
towards rear, 7th halfway, progress after 4 out, pushed along and lost place before 2 out where mistake in 5th, kept on run-in to 3rd closing stages, no danger
chased leaders, progress and disputed after 5th, led after 6th, mistake at 7th and 4 out where headed, soon led, headed and ridden after 2 out, 3rd at last where not fluent, weakened
towards rear, 6th halfway, progress to 4th after 4 out, good headway and almost on terms 3 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, not fluent and pecked at last, no extra and dropped to 4th
chased leaders, jumped big at 1st and unseated rider
led narrowly, not fluent at 5th and joined, headed after 6th, dropped to 3rd before 7th, weakened quickly, pulled up 3 out
towards rear, took closer order after 1st, progress to 2nd before 7th, led 4 out, soon headed, ridden and weakened before 3 out where mistake, pulled up 2 out
Draycott Place won this last year, though only on the disqualification of Rocky Court, and scored twice subsequently. He's only 2lb higher and a couple of runs over timber will have put him straight but the latter, who made amends with a victory on the track in August, has the worst of the weights this time and a long absence to overcome. Dakota Moirette has been running quite well in slightly better company though has yet to win in a dozen starts over fences. Damut is gradually dropping to a winnable mark though hasn't been in the best of form unlike Punches Cross, who completed a double in minor handicaps at Naas before failing to stay 2m4f on the same track. STORMEY was in good form over hurdles last summer and might have taken a hand in the finish in a beginners' event here earlier this month but for falling at the last so gets the vote.
Dakota Moirette (FR) 5-1 (10-4) Close up, soon disputed lead, led from 2nd, jumped a little left 4th, mistakes 5th and 6th, joined before 7th, headed after 3 out, one pace 2 out, 3rd of 6, 11l behind The West's Awake (11-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp gd in May.
Draycott Place (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 1st and chased leader, 2nd halfway, led before 2 out, joined and disputed before last, soon ridden, headed 1f out, no extra and kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 4 3/4l behind Weekend Offender (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 2f hcp gd in May.
Rocky Court (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Towards rear, slightly hampered 1st and again slightly hampered 4th, took closer order from 3 out, short of room and mistake next, ridden in 7th after last, no impression and kept on into 5th run-in, 5th of 17, 16 3/4l behind Penny Jane (10-9) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Punches Cross (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, 9th 4 out, ridden in 7th after 2 out, no impression, 7th of 11, 26 3/4l behind Poker Party (11-2) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Damut (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Soon led, pressed 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, no extra in 2nd when slight mistake last, dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 15 3/4l behind Carrig Cathal (11-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f hcp gd in May.
Stormey (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, 5th halfway, mistake 4 out, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, no impression on leaders when fell last, at Ballinrobe 2m 1f gd in May.
Turbo (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Waited with, some slight mistakes, last from 6th, no impression from 4 out, 9th of 12, 34 3/4l behind Beyond The Law (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Shrewdoperator (IRE) 9-2 (10-1) Led, mistake 5th and joined, not fluent 6th, headed 7th, ridden in 2nd 3 out, 3rd before next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Seskin Flyer (10-11) at Navan 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Attalco (FR) 10-1 (12-2) Alw in rr, pu 2out, at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m sft in Apr.