tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, 3rd and no impression before last, no extra
towards rear, slight mistake 1st, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression in 7th after 3 out, weakened, tailed off
led, headed 3rd, pushed along and dropped to rear after 4th, pulled up after next
mid-division, 4th halfway, close 3rd and fell 4 out
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, went 2nd before 2 out, led last and soon asserted, kept on well run-in
towards rear, progress halfway and left 4th 4 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, no impression on winner run-in, under pressure and kept on one pace
always towards rear, not fluent 2nd, 9th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 6th after 3 out, moderate 5th before last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 2nd halfway, pushed along and no extra in 5th approaching 2 out, weakened
mid-division, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace to go 3rd close home
tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 6th halfway, 7th and brought down 4 out
This is a poor quality handicap with top weight Stynes having won just once in a 26-race career, though that was on his latest start over timber in a four-runner event at Clonmel in October. He may require faster ground so INDIAN RUPEE (NAP) gets the nod. Tom Mullins' charge justified strong support to land a Punchestown handicap on New Year's Eve but was then booged down in the mud at Thurles a few weeks later. He returned to form with a fine run behind Lilshane at Naas a month ago and his 2lb rise is wiped out by David Mullins' claim. Barry Geraghty gets on Jumptoconclusions for the first time and Edward O'Grady's charge looks the main threat, especially if the ground turns heavy as he scored in those conditions at Cork in December and has run well from his higher mark subsequently. Feel The Air was having her first start since July at Clonmel last month and will have come on for the run, though she wouldn't want any more rain.
Stynes (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leader, slight mistakes 1st 2, led after 5 out, asserted next and soon clear, stayed on well straight, comfortably, won at Clonmel 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Oct beating Collen Beag (10-9) by 7l, 4 ran.
Presenting Mahler (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Towards rear, blundered 4th, never a factor, no impression approaching 2 out, kept on one pace straight, 12th of 23, 21l behind Who's That (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m 2f mrs hcp hdl in Feb.
Indian Rupee (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Led, not fluent 4th, joined 2 out, headed between last 2, not fluent last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 18, 6l behind Lilshane (10-2) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Feb.
Rufino (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Led, blundered 3 out, headed after next, soon no extra, weakened, 10th of 13, 20l behind Shemshal (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m nov hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Jumptoconclusions (IRE) 4-1fav (10-10) Mid-division, progress 3 out and 2nd entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace, 4th of 17, 10l behind Missyspet (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 80-109 in Jan.
Feel The Air (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, 12th of 18, 31l behind Tb Broke Her (10-10) at Clonmel 2m hcp hdl 80-95 in Feb.
Deadly Catch (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division, no impression and not fluent 3 out, no extra, 13th of 20, well behind Velvet Maker (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl in Jan.
Captain Ahab (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Prominent and disputed early, 2nd halfway, ridden and weakened 3 out, 17th of 18, well behind Tb Broke Her (10-10) at Clonmel 2m hcp hdl 80-95 in Feb.
By The Banks (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Chased leader, mistake 6th, moderate 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 4 out, no extra before 3 out where slight mistake, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Zipporah (11-2) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-102 in Jan, 18 ran.
Theoystercatcher (IRE) 28-1 (9-13) Pushed along from early, soon mid-division, not fluent 3rd and reminders, no impression from 10th, 12th of 16, well behind Kentucky Star (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-109 in Feb.
