led or disputed lead, led after 4th, jumped left next and headed after 6th, remained prominent, pushed along 3 out, ridden and no impression in 4th before next, no extra
ran 4th, 5th 3 out, soon pushed along and no extra approaching next, weakened
prominent and disputed lead, led after 6th, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner before last, ridden and no extra run-in
ran 5th, 4th 3 out, soon pushed along, 3rd and jumped badly right 2 out, ridden and no impression when jumped right last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and headway to lead approaching 2 out, soon asserted and stayed on well run-in, easily
held up in rear, ran freely, closer 4 out, no extra approaching next and soon weakened, completely tailed off
BATTLE OF ACTIUM, who stepped up to this trip for the first time here in December and gained a comfortable victory from a subsequent winner, can take this though the opposition is strong. Clondaw Secret won a point and a Navan maiden hurdle and was in touch when making a bad mistake at the last at Limerick. Dual bumper winner On Eagles Wings beat what looked like a strong field, which included Debuchet, over the minimum at Naas where he looked certain to be suited by further while La Chanteuse, who was a long way behind the selection on her penultimate start, showed that to be all wrong when taking advantage of heavy ground at Fairyhouse.
Battle Of Actium (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Prominent and disputed lead, not fluent 4th, led 6th, asserted after 3 out, 5 lengths clear when slight mistake last, kept on well, won at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec beating Fun Light (11-6) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Clondaw Secret (IRE) 10-3 (11-13) Held up, 3rd before 7th, closed after 3 out, improved to 2nd before 2 out, ridden before last where mistake, soon dropped to 3rd, weakened, 3rd of 5, 12 1/4l behind Diol Ker (11-13) at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
On Eagles Wings (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Disputed lead, headed at 3rd, improved to dispute lead entering straight, led travelling well approaching 2 out, ridden at last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Naas 2m mdn hvy in Jan beating Captain Kangaroo (12-0) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Debuchet (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Waited with towards rear, 8th after 5th, pushed along and headway on outer from before straight, kept on same pace without threatening from before last, 5th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Wingin A Prayer (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
La Chanteuse (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from 3 out, ridden from next, strongly pressed before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn hvy in Jan beating Manitopark Aa (11-7) by 6l, 14 ran.
The Miser (IRE) 200-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden entering straight, moderate 4th when stumbled on landing at last and almost unseated rider, kept on one pace, 5th of 17, 25 1/2l behind Hes A Hardy Bloke (12-0) at Punchestown 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
