made all, pressed from 3 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, driven out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked winner, took closer order from 6th, challenged 3 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish
in rear but in touch in 4th, headway to challenge and every chance 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened and hit last
EYRE SQUARE, who has stamina in abundance, has won over fences at Newcastle and Ayr this season and showed enough over hurdles last term to suggest he can take advantage of the 7lb he receives here from Alexander Road and Jago River. Donald McCain's mare is chasing a hat-trick after wins over 2m4f here and at Sedgefield but has her stamina to prove and possibly lacks the scope of Howard Johnson's five-year-old, who showed a nice turn of foot to beat Chocolate Caramel at Musselburgh in November and was an expensive purchase back in 2009. Lord Rudi showed promise when third at Thurles last month but has disappointed again since and may struggle against these.
Alexander Road (IRE) 11-10fav (11-6) Disputed lead until overall leader after 3 out, soon hard ridden, stayed on well under pressure, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Kykate (10-11) by 5l, 8 ran.
Jago River (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, challenged 3 out, led next, went right and not fluent last, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Chocolate Caramel (11-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Eyre Square (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, blundered 14th, headway 3 out, challenged when left in lead last, ridden and kept on flat, won at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jan beating Top It All (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lord Rudi (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 3rd on outer halfway, close 2nd 4 out, no extra from 3 out, weakened, 9th of 20, 37l behind Last Instalment (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
