led, pressed from 5 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra in 4th before 2 out, weakened
held up on outer, disputed 4th from 8th, slight mistakes 5 out and 3 out, soon closer, challenged entering straight, ridden and disputed before 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, closer after 3 out, disputed entering straight, shaken up to assert after 2 out, easily
slight mistake 1st, soon held up behind leaders, mainly 4th, slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, under pressure in 5th before straight, weakened
held up towards rear, slight mistake 6th, ridden and no impression 4 out, soon no extra and weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, slight mistake 7th, close up and pressed leader after 5 out, disputed entering straight, ridden in 3rd before 2 out where slight mistake, soon no extra
Battleford landed the odds in a maiden at Leopardstown two runs ago and has the beating of third New To This Town. But Willie Mullins’ runner then disappointed behind The Storyteller at Thurles and has a bit to find with MONALEE on collateral form. Henry De Bromhead’s charge beat The Storyteller at Punchestown in November and improved again to finish second in a Grade 2 at Navan. Mullins also run Turcagua but he finished further behind Death Duty in a Grade 1 at Naas than the selection did last time. Fairyhouse winner Woods Well remains something of an unknown quantity but Rathnure Rebel has to concede 6lb to his rivals and needs to bounce back from a poor run last time at Limerick having won easily in the grade at Cork the time before.
Rathnure Rebel (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Led, joined 1st, soon headed, chased leader, pushed along from 3 out, soon dropped to 4th, no impression approaching straight, soon no extra, 4th of 5, dist behind Penhill (11-6) at Limerick 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Battleford 6-5fav (11-5) Led and disputed, slight mistake 1st and headed, settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, close up on outer before 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out where slight mistake, no extra in 2nd before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 9l behind The Storyteller (11-5) at Thurles 2m 7f Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Monalee (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Led, pressed and joined 3 out, headed after 2 out, no impression and one pace last, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Death Duty (11-6) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
New To This Town (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 6th, ridden and no impression in 4th approaching 2 out, kept on one pace to go moderate 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 11 1/2l behind Battleford (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Dec.
Turcagua (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Prominent, mistake 3rd, on terms next, led 5th, slight mistake 3 out, headed between last 2, soon dropped to 3rd, left 2nd at last, one pace, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Death Duty (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Woods Well (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Prominent and disputed, led after 6th, asserted before last, steadied and slight mistake last, pushed out to go clear run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn sft in Jan beating Gettysburg Address (11-12) by 7 1/2l, 15 ran.
