led, joined 1st and headed next, slight mistake 5th and soon towards rear, closer in 4th 5 out, 3rd after 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, moderate 2nd entering straight, no chance with winner, tired run-in and lost 2nd close home
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened quickly 5 out, completely tailed off
chased leader, disputed 1st and led 2nd, clear from 3rd, 8-length advantage halfway, extended advantage 5 out, in command and asserted closing stages, not extended
held up in rear, progress into 3rd 5 out, slight mistake 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, no extra in 3rd entering straight, mistake 2 out, dropped to 4th run-in
held up early, chased leaders from 2nd, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened quickly and soon pulled up
held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden after 3 out, under pressure in moderate 4th before 2 out, kept on one pace from last to go 2nd close home
Gordon Elliott has two entries and MONKSHOOD is taken to show his run at Cork in December to be all wrong. Unbeaten in his three previous starts, he started a short-priced favourite for that Grade 3 but was always fighting a losing battle and was eventually completely tailed off. His stable companion Burren Life ran on to finish second without threatening so we know he stays the trip well in the conditions while Moonshine Bay has won between the flags and had no problems seeing off Giant Spirit, who runs earlier, over 2m3f here last month. Last Man Standing has been progressing nicely and found the step up to around this trip at Thurles to his liking earlier this month while Chris's Dream went for £175,000 at the sales after an impressive victory over 2m3f at Limerick in December and has changed stables so he's definitely one to keep an eye on.
Burren Life (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Soon chased leaders, 5th after 4th, closer order before 6th, no extra from before 2 out, 5th of 10, 29l behind Hareth (10-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Monkshood (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Tracked leader in clear 2nd, closer at 8th, under pressure and weakened after 4 out, dropped to moderate 4th after 2 out, completely tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Fabulous Saga (11-3) at Cork 3m (1) hvy in Dec.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along approaching straight and led before 2 out, 2 lengths lead last, stayed on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m 3f mdn sft in Dec beating Judgement Day (11-12) by 4 3/4l, 12 ran.
Last Man Standing (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Soon chased leaders, led on inner travelling smoothly into straight, ridden out to assert and stayed on well run-in, won at Thurles 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Caro Des Flos (11-4) by 2l, 14 ran.
Moonshine Bay (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd before 5th, led approaching 3 out, pressed straight, asserted from before last, ridden out and stayed on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn hvy in Jan beating Giant Spirit (11-12) by 6l, 13 ran.
Carrigeen Acebo (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 3rd from 5th, lost place before 3 out, soon no impression, one pace, 8th of 13, 31l behind Poormans Hill (11-13) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp hvy in Jan.
