made all, 6-length advantage halfway, reduced advantage after 4 out, ridden to assert before 2 out, soon clear, eased run-in
chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra approaching 3 out where mistake, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
held up, 7th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, soon ridden towards rear, no extra next, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, closer in 3rd before straight, ridden and no impression before 2 out, 2nd and slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, slight mistake 5th, ridden in 6th entering straight, no impression in 5th before 2 out, 4th last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd entering straight, ridden after 3 out, under pressure in 4th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra
mid-division early, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, improved to chase leaders from 5th, 4th halfway, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no extra before 3 out
held up towards rear, slight mistake 5 out, progress into 7th entering straight, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, no extra in 3rd 2 out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, progress into 6th before straight, ridden and no extra 3 out, weakened, pulled up before last
held up, 8th halfway, ridden into 6th after 3 out, no impression before 2 out, soon no extra
Several recent winners make their handicap debuts. Lily's Gem came good in novice company on a trip over to Carlisle recently while Groody Rover and Granny Knot landed maiden hurdles at Clonmel and Thurles respectively and are others to consider. But Gordon Elliott runs his maiden winner METAL MAN, who finished in front of odds-on stablemate Galet D’oudairies when scoring at Navan, and there looks more to come from him now handicapping. So Near So Farhh won over a shorter trip here in January and Mc Alpine went close at Naas before struggling at Gowran.
Groody Rover (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden to dispute before 2 out, led after 2 out, kept on strongly from last, won at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Mar beating Farmix (11-12) by 4 1/4l, 10 ran.
Bachelor (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Rear mid-division , improved 5th halfway , ridden and no impression entering straight , kept on one pace, 7th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Don Patricio (11-2) at Sligo 2m mdn gd in Jul.
Lily's Gem (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, challenged 2 out, soon led but pressed, holding 2nd towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Penny Mallow (11-12) by nk, 7 ran.
Magic Sea (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Raced in 12th early, took closer order 3 out, effort next, kept on same pace from last, 5th of 20, 14 1/4l behind Wajaaha (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Mar.
Fag An Bealach (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Mid-division early, 7th after 5th, mistake 7th, pushed along approaching 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, one pace after, 7th of 12, 19l behind My Club Colours (9-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Granny Knot (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Impeded 1st, soon tracked leaders, 3rd from 5th, led approaching straight, soon joined, led again before last where slight mistake, stayed on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 5f mdn sft in Feb beating Barangarou (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Metal Man (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Made most, jumped right, ran slightly off bend before 4th, joined briefly before 5th, pushed along and joined approaching 2 out, soon ridden, led after last, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar beating Annie Pender (11-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Nathaniel's Dream 40-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, no impression and slight mistake 3 out, one pace, 10th of 20, 20 1/2l behind Francin (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Feb.
Mc Alpine (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division on inner, no extra after 4 out, behind and pulled up before next, at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
So Near So Farhh 8-1 (10-7) Waited with, 11th after 5th, pushed along briefly from 7th, switched right approaching 9th, no impression and one pace straight, slight mistake 2 out, 6th of 12, 20 3/4l behind Sassy Yet Classy (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
