made all, drew clear from 8th, totally in command from 4 out, mistake 2 out, kept on well, very easily
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd halfway and lost touch with easy winner after 8th, struggling when mistake 4 out, kept on one pace in straight
chased leaders mainly 5th, lost touch with easy winner after halfway, went moderate 2nd approaching 3 out where mistake, jumped left last and almost unseated rider, kept on one pace
chased leaders mainly 4th, lost touch with easy winner after halfway, under pressure in 5th when fell 3 out
chased leader in 3rd, 2nd halfway, lost touch with easy winner after 8th, ridden and dropped to 4th entering straight, no extra
RUBI LIGHT, who won this a year ago, should complete the double before heading for the Ryanair Chase in which he finished a close third last year. Robbie Hennessy's stable star has a Grade 1 penalty to contend with after his comfortable victory over Joncol in the John Durkan when Trafford Lad was a long way behind and, though finding Synchronised too strong over 3m in the Lexus, a return to this trip and lower grade should see him home. Apt Approach goes from strength to strength and is another with Cheltenham aspirations. He's ideally suited by the trip as he showed when scoring at this level at Thurles where he had the useful pair Follow The Plan and Roberto Goldback behind. Chicago Grey continues his build-up to the Grand National and won't do his chances any harm with a big run, which is expected, though his victory in last year's National Hunt Chase over 4m suggests he'll find this too short.
Rubi Light (FR) 9-4 (11-10) Always prominent, tracked leader in 2nd, disputed halfway and led before 11th, strongly pressed entering straight, headed under pressure before last, no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Synchronised (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) gd in Dec.
Apt Approach (IRE) 9-10fav (11-3) Made most, not fluent and pecked 3 out, on terms next, stayed on best under pressure run-in to assert closing stages, won at Thurles 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Follow The Plan (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Chicago Grey (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Raced 4th of the 5 at slow pace, dropped to last and ridden from 3 out, no impression from before next, kept on without threatening into 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Zaidpour (11-10) at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 sft in Jan.
The Fonze (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, squeezed along at stages, moderate 4th approaching 7 out, soon struggling, pulled up before last, in a race won by Apt Approach (11-3) at Thurles 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Trafford Lad 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 2nd approaching 6 out, led approaching next, strongly pressed when jumped left 2 out and again at last, kept on well run-in, headed near finish, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Leanne (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs hvy.
