made all and kept wide, soon clear, jumped right, reduced advantage of 2 lengths at halfway, pushed along 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in
mid-division, dropped to rear before 5th, detached before 4 out, no extra, well behind and pulled up before 3 out
chased leader, closer in 3rd halfway, pushed along entering straight, no impression when slow 2 out, no extra, kept on one pace
mid-division, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 6th approaching straight, no extra from 2 out
held up in rear on outer, 6th halfway, some headway 4 out, pushed along entering straight and no extra from 2 out
chased leader, slight mistake 2nd, 5th halfway, some headway after 4 out and 3rd approaching straight, pushed along and no impression before next, no extra from 2 out
chased leader, closer in 2nd halfway, pushed along early straight, ridden after 2 out and kept on one pace under pressure run-in, no impression on winner
Henry De Bromhead won this last year and Chris's Dream looks certain to make a bold bid. A Grade 2 winner at Navan at this time last year, he bounced back to form there in November, winning the lucrative Troytown Handicap. He's a smart performer and there could still be more to come though REAL STEEL was impressive when landing a Thurles Grade 2 from odds-on stable companion Footpad and that sort of form will make him hard to beat. Kaiser Black was progressing rapidly when last seen in the spring, coming home a long way clear in a Naas Grade 3 in March. Tout Est Permis has been hurdling but looks the best of Noel Meade's pair while Shattered Love has mixed it with the best since a facile victory at Clonmel in November.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Mid-division early, 9th before 8th and headway, closed up travelling smoothly straight, led before 2 out, asserted approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 3m hcp sft in Nov beating Fitzhenry (10-9) by 9 1/2l, 23 ran.
Real Steel (FR) 2-1 (11-8) Led or disputed lead, headed after 3rd and 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out and headway to dispute again approaching straight, led after 2 out and ridden to assert before last, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Jan beating Footpad (11-3) by 14l, 5 ran.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Soon chased leaders, 5th at 4th, no extra from before 2 out, 6th of 9, 15 3/4l behind Min (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Tout Est Permis (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Mid-division, closer in 7th 3 out, ridden from next, moderate 4th at last, no extra, 4th of 28, 10 1/2l behind Treacysenniscorthy (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Kaiser Black (IRE) 15-8 (11-2) Tracked leaders, left 2nd after 1st, headway travelling well when slight mistake 2 out, soon led, pushed out and drew clear run-in, easily, won at Naas 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Camelia De Cotte (11-3) by 11l, 4 ran.
Death Duty (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Held up in touch in rear, last at 7th, stumbled on bend before next, slight mistake 8th, in touch in last 3 out, no impression in moderate 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, dist behind Benie Des Dieux (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Shattered Love (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Tracked leader until mistake and dropped to 3rd at 8th, pushed along briefly after 10th, ridden and no impression before 2 out, no extra before last, 3rd of 4, 19l behind Al Boum Photo (11-12) at Tramore 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.