soon led, joined from 2nd, slight mistake 5th, headed next, a little slow 8th and next, pushed along in 3rd from 3 out, 4th before straight, soon no impression, left 3rd from last
not fluent 1st, soon chased leaders, not fluent 6th and collided with rival, 4th from 3 out, 3rd before straight, 2nd and challenged from before last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in
prominent, on terms from 2nd, led 6th, joined from before 5 out, led again before straight, pressed from before last, stayed on well under pressure to assert run-in
soon prominent, on terms from before 5 out, headed before straight, mistake 2 out, no impression in 3rd when bad mistake and unseated rider last
held up in rear, got slight bump 6th, no extra from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
The veteran Lion Na Bernai will be warming up for a crack at the Grand National and the novice Shrapnel has a penalty for his Grade 3 victory at Galway in October. He was pulled up in the Dan Moore here a couple of weeks ago when COMPETITIVE EDGE ran the race of his life behind Turban. Conor O'Dwyer's charge is the youngest and most progressive in this line-up and should go one better. Rivage D'Or would prove a threat if repeating his run in a Limerick Grade 3 in October though his latest efforts haven't been up to that standard. Playing won two tough handicaps in very testing conditions but couldn't handle a 14lb rise and much stronger competition in the Thystes Chase at Gowran.
Shrapnel (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 7th on outer 5 out, ridden and weakened from next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Turban (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Competitive Edge (IRE) 7-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway into 2nd when slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Turban (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f sft in Jan.
Lion Na Bearnai (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Soon mid-division, slight mistake 5th, soon towards rear, no extra approaching straight, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind She's Got Grit (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Jan.
Playing (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, progress into 7th 6 out, ridden and no extra 4 out, 10th of 18, well behind On His Own (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs in Jan.
Rivage D'Or (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, under pressue from 3 out, moderate 6th next, no impression (disqualified as rider failed to weigh in), in a race won by Boston Bob (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
