soon close up, on terms before 3 out travelling smoothly, narrowly headed and pushed along from 2 out, every chance and stayed on well from before last, just failed
tracked leaders, on terms before 3 out and slight mistake, soon headed and not much room, soon pushed along, no impression 2 out, one pace
led, jumped slightly right 7th, joined from 10th, soon led again, joined before 3 out, bumped slightly approaching straight, headed approaching 2 out where dropped to 4th and pushed along, one pace
in rear, closed to track leaders from before 3 out travelling smoothly, challenged from before 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, ridden and strongly pressed approaching last, stayed on well run-in, all out
held up in touch, took closer order 9th, pushed along 3 out, soon no impression in rear
hit 1st, held up in touch, slight mistake 5th, took closer order 9th, slight mistake next, improved to track leaders before straight, mistake 2 out, one pace
tracked leader, not fluent 8th, on terms from 10th, soon headed, on terms again from before 3 out, pushed along before straight, slight mistake 2 out, soon headed and no impression, weakened
Morning Assembly, a Grade 1 winning novice hurdler, beat Don Cossack over fences before placed in three runs at the highest level. He hasn't been seen since April 2014 so may be worth watching for now. LORD SCOUNDREL was obviously flattered by his proximity to Killultagh Vic at Leopardstown after the latter made a hash of the last but it was still a fair effort and today's longer trip is in his favour so he gets the nod. The veteran Seabass has won six times over fences though the latest was four years ago. He remains a very useful performer as he showed when a close third in a Grade A handicap at Leopardstown a couple of weeks ago. Sumos Novios looks a smart prospect with his defeat of subsequent winner Empire Of Dirt at Punchestown the highlight so far though he was beaten when brought down in the Paddy Power over Christmas. Canaly has won twice over fences and competed in good-class handicaps though an absence since 2014 is a concern.
Morning Assembly (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Led and disputed, led 4 out, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, dropped to 3rd when mistake at last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 5, 16 1/4l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
Lord Scoundrel (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, 3rd 4 out, pushed along and no impression entering straight, left 2nd after last, ridden and no impression, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Killultagh Vic (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 3f (1) sft in Jan.
Seabass (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Led, pushed along and headed entering straight, dropped to 3rd last, no impression and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 4 3/4l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Jan.
Bridgets Pet (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Towards rear, slight mistake 8th, badly hampered 12th, soon no impression, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
Canaly (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led, 5 lengths lead halfway, headed 3 out, ridden and no impression on leader approaching straight, 3rd and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Quarton (10-1) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Competitive Edge (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) In rear, not fluent 2nd, pushed along 8th, soon no impression, 13th of 15, 26 1/4l behind Mrs Mac Veale (11-3) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Sumos Novios (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, prominent from 7th, 3rd halfway, 2nd from 11th, ridden in 4th entering straight, under pressure in 6th when brought down last, at Leopardstown 3m hvy in Dec.
