made all, ridden run-in and kept on well
raced in 2nd, ridden after 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace close home, caught for 2nd near line
always in rear, not fluent 4 out, pushed along after 2 out and soon no impression
raced in 3rd, ridden after 2 out, kept on well to take 2nd close home, no impression on winner
A poor turnout for a race in which the last eight favourites have been beaten. ZAIDPOUR will start at short odds here and should reverse that trend. He's spent virtually all of his career racing at the highest level here and in France and has eight victories over hurdles to his credit. He's better over further but the ground is in his favour and he's impossible to oppose. Darwins Fox has progressed into a smart dual-purpose performer with a victory at Grade 2 level over fences and placed efforts at a high level over timber. He's fit enough after a good run behind Rebel Fitz at Tipperary so looks the one for the forecast. Pittoni has won half of his 18 races including the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2010. He hasn't been seen since beating a strong field back there in March 2012 but his trainer knows how to get one ready and the market should be watched. Noble Endeavour has won a bumper and a maiden hurdle from five starts but has much more to do here.
Zaidpour (FR) 16-1 (10-10) 6th of 13, 18l behind Gemix (10-10) at Auteuil(FR) 3m 1f hdl G1 sft in Jun.
Darwins Fox (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Led, not fluent 4th, headed 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Rebel Fitz (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl G2 (1) in Oct.
Pittoni (IRE) 6-5fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from 3rd, pushed out to assert run-in, dismounted lame post-race, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f hdl gd in Mar '12 beating Won In The Dark (11-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Mid-division, 7th halfway, mistake 5 out, ridden in rear before straight, kept on one pace straight, 6th of 9, 17l behind Thunder And Roses (10-13) at Navan 2m 7f nov hdl sft in Mar.
