led and disputed, headed 4 out, disputed again 3 out, soon led, headed approaching 2 out, ridden after 2 out, rallied run-in, just held
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, 4th and ridden 3 out, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to press leaders run-in, held close home
tracked leader, close up and disputed from 3rd, jumped well, led 4 out, joined 3 out, soon headed and ridden, no extra in 4th 2 out
always towards rear, slight mistake 5th, ridden and no impression 3 out, no extra before next
held up, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, stayed on to lead approaching 2 out, strongly pressed run-in, all out close home
Ask D'Man completed a double between the flags before landing a maiden hunter-chase at Clonmel where he had I Often Wonder 15l behind. He ran poorly at Naas next time but that was a much better race than this. ER DANCER was beaten three lengths by Aloneamongmillions at Tutulla in January but the winner landed a hunter's event at Gowran on Saturday so the form looks good enough for this. Alpha Male has been placed in this for the past two years without looking like winning and though Lawlor's Choice ran well at Borris House earlier this month she's just as likely to be pulled up.
Ask D'Man (IRE) 15-2 (12-0) Led and disputed, ridden and headed when jumped left 2 out, dropped to 3rd and tired at last, weakened run-in, 5th and virtually pulled up close home, 5th of 6, dist behind Billaway (12-0) at Naas 3m 1f Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Er Dancer (FR) 6-4 (12-2) Mid-div, 4th 1/2way, prog to 2l 2nd well bef 3out, 3l 2nd at last, ko bt nt mtch wnr, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Aloneamongmillions (12-2) at Turtulla 3m Yielding in Jan.
Alpha Male (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Waited with towards rear, soon detached, some headway from 10th, kept on same pace without threatening after, 8th of 15, 34 1/2l behind Sizing Malbay (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in May.
I Often Wonder 5-2 (12-2) Led or disputed lead, slight mistakes 9th and 10th, headed entering straight and no impression on winner before 2 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Ask D'Man (12-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan.
Lawlor's Choice 10-1 (12-2) Twrds rr, mstk 7th, 9th 1/2way, prog bef 4out, went cl 2nd sn aftr, eff to ld appr str, rejnd last, hdd sn aftr & no ex, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Rockanrye (12-2) at Borris House 3m Yielding in Mar.
