in rear, progress entering straight, switched left and 6th 2 out, went 2nd run-in, kept on one pace but no impression on winner
rear of mid-division, no impression in 13th entering straight, moderate 8th last, kept on one pace
mid-division, 11th halfway, pushed along in 7th 2 out, soon no extra
tracked leaders, ran freely, progress to lead 4 out, travelled well and asserted before last, stayed on well, comfortably
mid-division, 9th halfway, progress inner into 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner and not fluent last, 3rd and kept on one pace run-in
prominent and disputed lead, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 5th 2 out, soon no extra, weakened
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 5th entering straight, soon no extra, weakened
chased leaders, 7th halfway, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra
led or disputed lead, headed 4 out, ridden and no extra early straight, weakened
chased leaders, 6th halfway, lost place after 3 out, no extra, weakened
rear of mid-division inner, 13th halfway, 8th and not fluent 2 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, 8th halfway, pushed along and went 4th 2 out, no impression on winner and slight mistake last, kept on one pace run-in
mid-division, 10th halfway, pushed along and no extra approaching straight, weakened
rear of mid-division, 12th halfway, progress straight and went 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace
towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace straight
rear of mid-division, pushed along in rear before 4 out, no extra approaching straight
towards rear, never a factor, some progress after 2 out and went moderate 6th last, kept on one pace
disputed lead, ran freely, headed before 4 out, no extra early straight, weakened
FEVER PITCH hasn't run over hurdles for almost four years but has been in excellent form over fences and can run from a 17lb lower mark here. It's taking a chance that he can still perform up to this level over timber but he's so well handicapped that he has to get the nod. Tony Martin has a pair of entries and both look dangers. I Shot The Sheriff was beaten a long way by today's rival Forever Gold at Navan in February but made major progress to score easily at Wexford though the assessor has had his say with a 10lb rise. Mydor completed a double in January and has performed well in better company subsequently, though he's shot up the weights as a consequence. Forever Gold went up 14lb for that Navan success and has since run well over fences though he was behind Mydor at Leopardstown. Mine Now has suddenly found his form and he'll be well suited by this stamina test while Rupert Lamb reverts to hurdling on a 21lb lower mark than over fences so has to be considered. A P McCoy's mount Flaming Dawn, who ran very well over slightly shorter here last time, is another who is respected in a wide-open handicap.
Ttebbob (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) In rear when hampered and brought down 4th, in a race won by Aux Ptits Soins (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar, 25 ran.
Seefood (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Mid-division, slight mistakes 4th, 14th and 15th, 5th 5 out, ridden from next, slight mistake 3 out, no impression, 8th of 13, 20l behind Embracing Change (10-0) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcap ch in Nov.
Flaming Dawn (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead before 2 out, soon ridden clear and swished tail under pressure before last, reduced advantage and swished tail run-in, no extra and headed near line, 2nd of 12, nk behind Rightdownthemiddle (10-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Feb.
I Shot The Sheriff (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Mid-division, 6th halfway, progress before 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led early run-in and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Wexford 2m 4f hdl 0-123 sft in Mar beating Velocity Boy (11-6) by 7l, 9 ran.
Mydor (FR) 4-1fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, hit 4th, headway under pressure before 2 out, went never dangerous 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 17, 10l behind Theinval (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Follow The Sign (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders early, mid-division in 8th halfway, dropped towards rear and ridden 3 out, weakened straight, virtually pulled up run-in, 13th of 16, well behind Mine Now (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl in Mar.
Off The Charts (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Held up on inner, trailing from 9th, ridden and weakened 4 out, completely tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Captainofthefleet (11-3) at Cork 3m hcp hdl hvy in Mar.
Forever Gold (IRE) 15-8fav (10-7) Held up behind leaders, 4th 4 out, effort when mistake next, under pressure in 5th 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Heathfield (10-8) at Navan 3m nov chs in Mar.
Horendus Hulabaloo (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden in 7th 2 out, no impression before last, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 17, 6l behind Fletcher (10-11) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl in Mar.
Rightdownthemiddle (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into close 3rd entering straight, under pressure in 4th 2 out, no extra before last, 7th of 16, 33l behind Mine Now (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl in Mar.
Rupert Lamb 11-4fav (10-11) Chased leaders, 4th approaching straight, no impression from before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 18, 8l behind Desertmore Stream (11-1) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl in Jun.
Seskinane (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Chased leader, 5th halfway, 7th entering straight, no extra before last, weakened, 12th of 21, 15l behind Usuel Smurfer (10-8) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Wildebeest (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Led and disputed early, headed 6th, ridden and dropped to 5th entering straight, soon weakened, last of 6, 27l behind Vedettariat (11-4) at Navan 2m 7f nov hdl in Mar.
Mine Now (IRE) 5-1fav (10-6) Held up towards rear, progress 4 out, 7th 3 out, improved to challenge 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl in Mar beating Jimmy Two Times (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Shamiran (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, slight mistake 3rd and pushed along briefly, reminders 6th, soon lost place, no danger from before 8th, completely tailed off,, 7th of 8, well behind Really Unique (10-13) at Thurles 2m 6f hcap hdle hvy in Jan.
Call Rog (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Towards rear, last after 5th and pushed along, behind 7th, pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Empire Of Dirt (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs in Feb, 15 ran.
Malt Gem (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 3 out, ridden into 7th entering straight, stayed on into 5th last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 16, 5l behind Mine Now (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl in Mar.
Fever Pitch (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Prominent, 3rd at 4th, 4th 3 out, on terms before straight, close 2nd at last, hampered run-in, soon switched right, kept on without reaching winner close home,, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind She's Got Grit (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcap ch sft in Feb.
Kylestyle (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd early, lost place 7th, 10th into straight, kept on without threatening run-in,, 6th of 14, 7l behind Sir Scorpion (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl sft in Feb.
Sir Ector (USA) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along in 4th when left 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Knight's Parade (11-3) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl in Mar.
Black Benny (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, slight mistakes 4th and 6th and soon trailing, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 10th of 12, well behind Rightdownthemiddle (10-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Feb.