always behind, detached in last from 4th, remote 5th 3 out, went moderate 4th 2 out
held up towards rear, jumped slightly left at 3rd and 4th, close 5th when fell 4 out
took keen hold early and disputed lead, headed 2nd, slow jump 6th and dropped to 4th, no impression from before 3 out, dropped to moderate 5th 2 out
tracked leaders, improved into 2nd 3 out, travelling well in 2nd entering straight, not fluent and ridden on outer 2 out, not fluent at last, stayed on well run-in, strongly pressed winner to line, just failed
disputed lead early, led from 2nd, headed and ridden before 3 out, moderate 3rd from next, kept on one paced
tracked leaders, improved to lead before 3 out, ridden and pressed when pecked slightly 2 out, stayed on well run-in, all out
An interesting little beginners' chase. King Leon is bred for chasing so did very well over timber though he's more likely to be effective over longer trips. Lord Adare was a long odds-on chance when landing a maiden hurdle at Limerick in April and looks certain to do better over the bigger obstacles and though Grade 3 winning hurdler Royal Reveille hasn't run since February of last year his handler makes few mistakes when bring one back from an absence. THE BOSSES COUSIN landed a bumper and a maiden hurdle and was expected to do well when tried over fences but he fell in both starts. Willie Mullins will have given him plenty of schooling and he's taken to get his career back on track. Tisamystery has already run four times over fences and can make a decent handicapper in time, a remark that also applies to the four-year-old Sin Miedo.
King Leon (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Held up, soon raced in 6th, pushed along briefly from 4 out, under pressure approaching 3 out, soon went 3rd, challenged and on terms last, soon led and stayed on best, won at Kilbeggan 3m nov hdl gd in Jun beating Wandering Aengus (10-10) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Lord Adare (IRE) 2-5fav (11-12) Mid-division, progress in moderate 5th 4 out, 2nd 3 out, closed on leader before straight, ridden to challenge 2 out when left in lead, soon strongly pressed, disputed last, kept on well under pressure to edge ahead closing stages run-in, won at Limerick 2m 2f mdn hdl gs in Apr beating Keppols Queen (11-5) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Royal Reveille (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 19th of 22, well behind Colbert Station (10-5) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl hvy in Feb '13.
The Bosses Cousin (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, fell 2nd, in a race won by Mullaghanoe River (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chase in Jan, 11 ran.
Tisamystery (IRE) 7-2 (9-12) Held up, slightly slow 4th, not fluent 6th, mistake 3 out, soon no extra in rear and eased, 7th of 8, 45l behind Mitebeall Forluck (10-0) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs gd in Oct.
Sin Miedo (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led briefly 4 out, soon headed, led again before 2 out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Crown Theatre (11-11) at Wexford 2m 1f beg chs gd in Oct.