held up, moderate 5th halfway, closer in 3rd 4 out and left 2nd, ridden 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace
led, misatke 1st and headed, chased leader in 2nd, soon clear of field, left in lead 4 out but reduced advantage, ridden to assert after 2 out, clear before last, kept on well
chased leader, led 1st, soon clear of field with nearest pursuer, reduced advantage when fell 4 out
towards rear, unseated rider 3rd
settled behind leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, mistake 9th, soon dropped to 6th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, slight mistake 5th, soon trailing, pulled up before 5 out
held up, moderate 6th halfway, moderate 3rd from 9th, 4th and closer 4 out, soon ridden and no extra, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
settled behind leaders, moderate 4th halfway, 5th but closer 4 out, left 4th, soon 3rd, ridden and no impression on leaders 3 out, soon no extra and weakened
Arbre De Vie did well over hurdles and had a run over fences at Thurles in January when beaten at long odds-on. He's back for another crack and his pedigree is all about chasing so gets another chance to prove that run wrong. Balko Des Flos also had some smart form over timber and though unable to cope with the high-class Bellshill on his chasing bow at Gowran he had the remainder back in another parish. Ballyoisin, a winning point-to-pointer, was a very impressive maiden hurdle winner at Navan in September of last year and could well prove a very useful chaser, as could FAGAN, whose close second to Unowhatimeanharry in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham is the stand-out piece of form. The latter gets the nod to make a successful debut over fences.
Arbre De Vie (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden 2 out, no impression in 12th entering straight, kept on one pace, 15th of 25, 21 1/2l behind Anibale Fly (10-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Led, joined approaching 3 out, headed before 2 out where mistake, no impression and one pace after, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Bellshill (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Ballyoisin (IRE) 4-6fav (11-8) Always prominent, on terms 7th, soon led, asserted 3 out, stayed on well run-in, easily,, won at Navan 2m mdn gd in Sep beating Mighty Concorde (11-12) by 11l, 20 ran.
Bective Cave (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, dropped to 12th into straight, no extra, 13th of 16, 33 1/4l behind Misdflight (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Conal (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Led early, soon joined and disputed lead at slow pace, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along straight and headed before 3 out, soon dropped to 4th and no extra, not fluent 2 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Last Goodbye (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Definite Earl (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up, towards rear early, soon mid-division, slight mistake 3 out, trailing and mistake 2 out, soon pulled up, at Sligo 2m 4f hcp hvy in Aug.
Fagan 11-8fav (11-3) Tracked leaders in 4th and in rear, ridden after 3 out, soon lost place, last of 4, 24l behind Up For Review (11-6) at Perth 3m (2) gd in Apr.
Girly Girl (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Raced 3rd, dropped to 5th at 7th, progress to 3rd 4 out, soon pushed along, ridden before 3 out, dropped to 5th 3 out, left moderate 4th 2 out where badly hampered, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, dist behind Listen Dear (11-1) at Cork 2m 1f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
