chased leader in 2nd, 3rd before straight, ridden 3 out, pressed leaders next, 2nd and kept on same pace run-in
led, 5-length advantage halfway, pressed before 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, dropped to 3rd and no extra run-in
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, mistake 4 out and briefly caught up in loose part of hurdle, dropped off leaders, pushed along before straight, closer but under pressure 3 out, no extra next
settled behind leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd halfway, closer and disputed 2nd after 4 out, 2nd before straight, pressed leader before 3 out where slight mistake, soon ridden, slight mistake 2 out, stayed on to lead last, kept on well run-in
Dr Mikey has been chasing, winning at Gowran in November before jumping poorly in his next two starts. He's won a bumper and scored twice over hurdles on this track but his double penalty won't aid his cause. LANDOFHOPEANDGLORY was beaten narrowly by Bapaume in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown two years ago. He's been a bit disappointing over fences recently but race conditions are in his favour. Avenir D'Une Vie is another who has been racing over the bigger obstacles but he's been running poorly this campaign and was behind Dolciano Dici when both were beaten a long way at Gowran a couple of weeks ago. The latter's stable companion Poly Rock is the only one of these who hasn't been chasing. He made a very impressive debut over timber on heavy ground at Clonmel a year ago but was well beaten when tackling 2m4f at Galway in October so this looks his trip.
Dr Mikey (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led and took keen hold, bad mistake at 2nd, bad mistake 7th and joined, led again and jumped right 3 out, soon headed, dropped to moderate 5th next, no impression and left moderate 4th at last, 4th of 6, 30 3/4l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-3) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Feb.
Poly Rock (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, 6th after 6th, took closer order in 5th before 2 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 7, 37 1/4l behind Dorrells Pierji (11-7) at Galway 2m 5f Yielding in Oct.
Avenir D'Une Vie (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, closer in mid-division briefly at halfway, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 10th of 11, dist behind Ex Patriot (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp sft in Mar.
Dolciano Dici (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, slight mistake 7th, moderate 8th 3 out, no impression, never a factor, 6th of 11, 29 1/4l behind Ex Patriot (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp sft in Mar.
Landofhopeandglory (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Waited with in rear, improved into 3rd approaching straight, ridden from 2 out, soon switched left and went 2nd, slight mistake last, no extra and one pace after, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Real Steel (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f gd in Feb.
