held up towards rear and soon behind, closer briefly 5 out, pushed along in moderate 4th before 4 out, ridden and no impression before straight
held up towards rear and soon behind, closer briefly 5 out, pushed along and no impression before 4 out, ridden and no extra before straight
held up towards rear and soon behind, slight mistake 6th, weakened 10th, pulled up before next
chased leader, 2nd halfway, jumped right 8th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before straight, kept on to challenge 2 out, led before last, kept on well run-in
led, ridden and pressed 2 out, headed before last where mistake, no extra run-in and dropped to 3rd
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace into 2nd run-in
settled behind leaders in 4th, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no extra before next, weakened, pulled up before 2 out
ALPHA MALE (NAP) ran well in some decent hurdles at the likes of Ascot and Newbury when in the care of Nicky Henderson and was tremendously impressive when making a winning hunter chase debut for his current yard at Punchestown in April. Conditions are fine and he will prove hard to beat if arriving in anything like the same form here. The Bolger team can never be ignored in such contests so the lightly-raced Different Spot should be noted in the market whilst the experience of Macs Legend, a Downpatrick hunter chase winner when last seen in May, also brings the Kelleher gelding into contention. Carrignagapple looks next best but must improve considerably to trouble the selection.
Macs Legend (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Held up, 7th after 7th, closed up approaching 3 out, soon on terms, led from next, stayed on well to assert from last, won at Downpatrick 2m 7f gd in May beating B C's Pride (11-7) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alpha Male (FR) 2-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, 6th from 3rd, improved to chase leader in 2nd from 10th, travelling smoothly straight, led before 2 out, soon asserted, stayed on well, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 4f sft in Apr beating Premier King (11-11) by 30l, 10 ran.
Baily Fox (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Prom, 4th 5out, prog frm 4out, clsr to disp 3out, nt mtch wnr bef 2out, ko, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Some Are Lucky (12-2) at Ballinaboola 3m gd in Nov.
Carrignagapple 9-4 (11-11) Ld, 2l adv 1/2way, jnd & hdd 5out, disp ld from 3out, ev ch aftr 2out, ko smepce last, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Dantes King (11-11) at Tinahely 3m Yielding in Feb.
Different Spot (IRE) 2-1 (11-11) In 4th when hmprd & ur rounding first bend, at Moig South 3m gd in Nov.
Glorious Galway (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Towards rear, took keen hold, improved to lead at 5th, ran out on bend before 7th, at Tramore 2m 5f hvy in Apr.
Sandycove Island (IRE) 7-1 (12-2) Rr of mid div, 6th 1/2way, prog to 3rd 2out where left 2nd, ko, 2nd of 8, 15l behind Shawshank (12-2) at Damma House 3m gd in Nov.
