made all, slight mistake 2 out, soon asserted and stayed on well run-in, easily
soon raced in 2nd, no impression from 2 out, dropped to 3rd and kept on same pace from last
took keen hold, held up, closer in 5th from 2nd, no extra from before 2 out
held up, 6th after 2nd, closer order before 3 out, weakened from before next, tailed off
held up, took keen hold, 7th after 2nd, improved to chase leaders before 2 out, soon no impression, 2nd and kept on without troubling winner from last
soon raced in 4th, no extra 2 out, one pace
soon raced in 3rd, no impression from 2 out, soon 4th and one pace
towards rear, no impression from before 3 out, weakened and pulled up after 2 out
towards rear, some headway and pushed along before straight, soon no impression
Veneer Of Charm won the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but was well beaten when tried against older horses at Navan in January. Getabird was a well-backed favourite for the Supreme Novices’ but pulled much too hard and was a spent force on the final turn. That wasn’t his true running but he’ll need to settle better here on similar going. Willie Mullins has three other entries but Draconien hasn’t so far shown the form required to win a Grade 2 and Sharjah may have been affected by a fall at Leopardstown in December when coming to win his race. SAYAR looked potentially top class when winning a Grade 3 at Tipperary in October. He’s not been seen since but that’s not a concern and he probably has more scope than most of his rivals. Hardline has won his last two but would have been a long way behind Sharjah in December had his rival not come to grief. Or Jaune De Somoza has only won a maiden so far while The Gunner Murphy is highly tried on his hurdles bow and Damalisque is having a first run for a new stable after a lay-off.
Getabird (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Raced keenly, led after 1st, headed approaching 2 out, dropped away quickly soon after, weakened before last, tailed off, 11th of 19, dist behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Hardline (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd 2 out, soon pushed along, improved to dispute lead at last, ridden run-in and stayed on well to lead close home, won at Naas 2m (1) sft in Feb beating Impact Factor (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sayar (IRE) Evensfav (10-11) Prominent and disputed lead, headway to lead approaching 2 out, asserted before last, ridden and kept on run-in, won at Tipperary 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Morgan (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Damalisque (FR) (10-3) won at Auteuil 2m 2f lst (1) sft in Sep beating Alkaprun (10-3) by 9l, 9 ran.
Draconien (FR) 10-3fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, bad mistake and unseated rider 3rd, at Navan 2m lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Or Jaune De Somoza (FR) 5-4fav (11-4) Led, joined 6th, soon led again, stayed on well from before last, won at Thurles 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Bang Bang Rosie (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 17 ran.
Sharjah (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, headway 2 out, driven and one pace between last 2, never reached leaders, ridden and gradually weakened flat, 8th of 19, 10 1/2l behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
The Gunner Murphy (IRE) 7-4 (11-11) Raced in 2nd, 3rd approaching straight, 2nd again under 2f out, kept on without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Minella Encore (12-0) at Leopardstown 2m sft in Dec.
Veneer Of Charm (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led before last, soon wandered, still wandering flat but ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Style De Garde (11-8) by 3l, 22 ran.
