close up and soon disputed lead, lost place under 6f out, no impression approaching straight, 7th 2f out, weakened and virtually pulled up final furlong, completely tailed off
held up in rear on outer, improved into close 4th approaching straight, 3rd 2f out, soon no extra, virtually pulled up final furlong, completely tailed off
held up early, soon chased leaders, 5th before straight, soon pushed along, 4th 2f out, soon moderate 3rd, kept on without troubling winner into 2nd closing stages
tracked leaders, closed up approaching straight, soon pushed along, 2nd 2f out, one pace, dropped to 3rd closing stages
tracked leaders, reminders approaching halfway, closed up over 4f out, soon under pressure, 5th 2f out, one pace
tracked leaders early, took keen hold, soon in touch towards rear, under pressure in last approaching halfway, soon behind, pulled up 4f out
led and disputed, in front and travelling smoothly straight, pushed along to assert 2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, eased close home, comfortably
close up, lost place 6f out and pushed along, no impression approaching straight, 6th 2f out, one pace
MERRY NIGHT looked a certain future winner when runner-up at Fairyhouse in November and started odds-on at Thurles a month later but failed to fire. He's given another chance in a race where most of his rivals are well exposed. They include Peace N'Milan, who followed a promising effort at Fairyhouse in December with a moderate effort back there last month. Be The Hero has had two runs over hurdles, the latest when an excellent second to long odds-on stable companion Woodford Island, so he's an obvious threat.
Iconic Image (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th and no impression over 3f out, stayed on into 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Battleford (11-12) at Punchestown 2m sft in Jan.
Knockraha King (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Towards rear, some progress into moderate 8th 5f out, soon ridden and weakened, 12th of 16, dist behind Any Drama (11-12) at Thurles 2m hvy in Jan.
Merry Night (IRE) 8-11fav (12-0) Tracked leaders on outer, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd approaching straight, under pressure and no impression in 6th 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 17, 11 1/4l behind New To This Town (11-11) at Thurles 2m Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Rapid Fritz (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Mid-division, ran freely, 7th on inner halfway, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra from over 1f out, 10th of 11, 21 1/4l behind Gurteen (12-0) at Leopardstown 2m hvy in Dec.
Be The Hero (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, moderate 5th at 9th, soon under pressure, some headway to chase leaders from before straight, no impression approaching 2 out where not fluent, not fluent last, kept on without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Woodford Island (11-9) at Navan 2m 7f mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Seano (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place under 6f out, soon weakened, completely tailed off, last of 22, dist behind Petit Mouchoir (11-4) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Apr.
Peace N' Milan (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Disputed briefly early, soon chased leaders, 2nd halfway, led 4 1/2f out, headed 3f out and ridden, no extra in 4th over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 15l behind Goaheadmakemyday (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Sliabh Donn (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 4th approaching straight, pushed along and no extra under 2f out, weakened, 4th of 6, dist behind New To This Town (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m hvy in Jan.
