disputed lead, slight mistake 2nd, led before 3rd, mistake 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, strongly pressed between last 2, soon joined, stayed on best to just prevail at line
disputed lead, headed before 3rd, prominent, inclined to jump right, pushed along briefly 6th, lost place from 7th, soon eased, pulled up before 2 out
held up, closer in 5th approaching straight, no impression and not fluent 2 out, one pace
soon mid-division, disputed 6th approaching straight, one pace 2 out
in rear, pushed along from 1st, headway 7th, bad mistake 3 out, disputed 6th on outer approaching straight, mistake 2 out, 4th and no impression last, one pace
tracked leaders, slight mistakes 2nd and 3rd, not fluent 6th, lost place quickly after 7th, soon eased, pulled up approaching 3 out
slight mistake 1st, soon chased leaders, mistake 3 out, 4th approaching straight, one pace 2 out
tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, 2nd approaching straight, travelling smoothly 2 out, ridden to challenge between last 2 and every chance, soon on terms, kept on well, not quite match winner and headed near line
soon chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, slight mistake next and pushed along briefly, 3rd approaching straight, slight mistake 2 out, no impression before last, kept on without threatening closing stages
not fluent 1st, chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, mistake 5th, pushed along briefly from 7th between horses, dropped to 8th approaching straight, no extra and mistake 2 out
towards rear, slight mistake 3rd and pushed along briefly, pushed along again after 6th, not much room briefly after 7th and under pressure, slight mistake 3 out, weakened
towards rear, pushed along briefly 5th, slight mistake 3 out, weakened
Harry Fry takes on the locals again this time with American, who looked a smart prospect when seeing off subsequent Grade 2 winner Label Des Obeaux at Ascot in November. He'll take some beating but LIFT THE LATCH is looking very progressive and cruised to victory over a decent field at Gowran last weekend so is taken to complete a quick double. Acapella Bourgeois has a penalty for a Grade 2 victory over Nambour at Thurles, where he overcame a bad mistake at the last, so has to be considered while Alto Esqua landed an almighty gamble at Clonmel though the opposition was nowhere near as strong as this. Fire In Soul had little to do to land a Clonmel maiden but did it in impressive style and could be anything.
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Made all, pushed along and not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths lead and bad mistake last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb beating Nambour (11-3) by 5l, 5 ran.
Moylisha Tim (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 3rd, dropped to 3rd 5 out, ridden and weakened from 3 out, dropped to remote 5th close home, 5th of 6, dist behind Up For Review (11-3) at Punchestown 3m hvy in Dec.
Alto Esqua (FR) 4-6fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, soon 4th, closed from before straight, challenged and gained narrow lead before 2 out, ridden out to assert run-in, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Feb beating Double Scores (11-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
American (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 4 out, joined when mistake last, driven and strongly pressed run-in, stayed on to assert towards finish, won at Ascot 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov beating Label Des Obeaux (10-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Haymount (IRE) 13-8jfav (11-12) Prominent, on terms from 1st, headed after 6th, soon back on terms, led 2 out, stayed on best run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Mar beating Alamein (11-12) by 3l, 14 ran.
Last Encounter (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, disputed from 7th, headed before 4 out, ridden and no extra next, weakened and completely tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Arkwrisht (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 6f (1) hvy in Feb.
Lift The Latch (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Close up, soon on terms, a little keen, led after 3rd, pressed but still travelling smoothly straight, pushed along from 2 out, asserted between last 2, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m sft in Mar beating Oiche Mhaith Boy (10-9) by 6l, 6 ran.
Nambour (GER) 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, left 2nd after 3 out and soon pushed along, ridden and no impression on winner before last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-3) at Thurles 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Our Duke (IRE) 6-5fav (11-3) Chased leaders, dropped to rear after 4th, pushed along halfway, detached 7th and soon pulled up, at Thurles 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Crafty Power (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, went 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Great Field (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f sft in Feb.
Crest 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 5th from 4th, 3rd before 6th, closed up between horses before straight, challenged 3 out travelling smoothly, on terms 2 out, pushed along to lead between last 2, ridden run-in and stayed on well, won at Navan 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Kashmiri Sunset (11-11) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Fire In Soul (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Chased leader in 2nd, challenged before 2 out, led after 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Feb beating Thumb Stone Blues (11-12) by 7l, 18 ran.
