disputed lead, headed at 8th, disputed 3rd next, ridden in 3rd from 3 out, moderate 3rd entering straight, left moderate 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, moderate 3rd at last, no extra
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along briefly at 5th, mistake 8th, not fluent next, soon ridden, moderate 4th after 3 out, no impression
held up in last, niggled along progress to dispute 3rd at 9th, bad mistake next and dropped to last, ridden in last entering straight, left moderate 3rd 2 out, went moderate 2nd at last, kept on one pace, not trouble winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 8th, 2nd from next, close up and every chance when fell 2 out
disputed lead, led from 8th, pressed when left well clear 2 out, kept on and eased run-in
Burrows Saint scored over this trip at Gowran in March but staying is his game as he showed when brilliantly landing the Irish National here. He could just find himself short of speed at this level though Paul Townend is likely to try and run the pace out of SAMCRO and Fakir D'Oudairies. The latter, a brilliant juvenile hurdler, made a sparkling chasing bow when beating the high-class Melon at Navan, though that was over 2m1f. The selection's debut over fences was much anticipated and he didn't disappoint, coming home well clear at Down Royal. The ground and trip look ideal and he can maintain his winning start. Ronald Pump certainly deserves his chance at this level having impressed over slightly further here on his chasing bow, though meets much better rivals.
Burrows Saint (FR) (10-10) 5th of 20, 22 1/4l behind Carriacou (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 6f hvy in May.
Chef Des Obeaux (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, blundered 6th, lost place when badly hampered and pulled up after 17th, at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Ronald Pump 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closer in 6th at halfway, went 3rd entering straight, headway to lead after 2 out and quickly went clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Nov beating Captain Cj (11-12) by 8l, 14 ran.
Samcro (IRE) 1-3fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, jumped well, led from 7th and made rest, went well clear 3 out, jumped slightly right at last, stayed on strongly run-in, very easily, impressive, won at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Nov beating Trappist Monk (11-12) by 17l, 7 ran.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 2-1 (11-4) Disputed lead, led from 4th and made rest, travelling well 2 out, pushed along at last, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Navan 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Melon (11-12) by 3l, 13 ran.
Tintangle (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Made all, slightly slow 1st, pressed from 5 out, ridden and hung left when strong pressed before 2 out, asserted after 2 out, hung badly left before last, kept on and drifted left run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 2f sft in Oct beating The Caddy Rose (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
