chased leaders, slight mistake 4th, 8th halfway, progress 4 out and 4th approaching straight, no impression when mistake 2 out, no extra
always towards rear, never a factor, mistake 5th and detached before next, reminders and no extra halfway, completely tailed off
led, headed 3rd, 6th halfway, dropped to 10th and mistake 5 out, no extra, pulled up before 3 out
rear of mid-division, never a factor, 11th halfway, 9th and slight mistake 5 out, no extra after next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, 4th halfway, progress to lead 4 out, asserted after 2 out, pushed out and kept on well run-in
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, dropped to 5th 4 out, soon no extra, weakened, tailed off
always rear, never a factor, detached before 4 out, no extra, completely tailed off
chased leaders, 5th halfway, closer before 4 out and 3rd approaching straight, no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 4 out, pushed along and dropped to 6th before next, weakened, tailed off
always towards rear, never a factor, remote 10th before 3 out, kept on one pace, tailed off
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along after 2 out, no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace
towards rear, slight mistake 4th, 10th halfway, 8th and mistake 5 out, no extra approaching straight, remote 7th and fell last
towards rear, never a factor, remote 9th 3 out, kept on one pace, tailed off
mid-division, 7th halfway, slight mistake 8th, went moderate 5th before 3 out, no impression in straight, kept on one pace
MONKSLAND makes his chasing debut and if he has anything like his hurdling ability he could be a star. Noel Meade's fragile eight year old, three times a Grade 2 winner over the smaller obstacles, reappeared a couple of weeks ago with a fine run behind the high class Arctic Fire and hopefully this can be the start of something special. He could have been found an easier opportunity as the opposition looks strong. Noble Endeavor was also very useful over hurdles and has the advantage of a run over fences behind Topper Thornton at Down Royal, which will have brought him on for this. Roi Des Francs looked to be heading the right way when completing a double over hurdles then finishing third behind stablemate Killultagh Vic in the Martin Pipe. He was nowhere near his best when tackling Grade 1 events later and chasing should be his game. Easy point to point winner Fair Return may need a bit more experience after a reasonable debut over fences at Punchestown while Mydor should have come on for the experience gained at Navan earlier this month.
Fair Return 8-1 (11-12) Held up, took keen hold, soon chased leaders, slight mistake 10th, disputed 4th before straight, no impression from 2 out, slight mistake last, one pace, 4th of 9, 8l behind No More Heroes (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f gd in Oct.
Gary (FR) 66-1 (11-12) Soon mid-division, slight mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, soon raced in 9th, reminders after 7th, soon no danger, 9th of 14, dist behind Railway Zira (11-5) at Roscommon 2m 5f gd in Jun.
Is That Marmalade (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Disputed lead, soon led, joined 4f out, soon headed, 3rd into straight, 5th from 2f out, soon no extra, 7th of 10, 34 1/2l behind Merry Westerner (12-0) at Limerick 2m 2f hvy in Dec.
Mezendore (IRE) 5-2 (12-2) Ww rr, 6th 6out & prog in 4th aftr 4out, further prog bef 2out where landed 2nd, ld bef last, so best, won at Kildorrery 3m hvy in Feb beating Fence Me In (12-2) by 1l, 8 ran.
Monksland (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Walked with rest of field for over ten seconds after start, soon disputed lead at slow pace, led from 2nd, joined approaching straight, just led again 3 out, pushed along after next and attempted to assert, hit last, pressed and stayed on well run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Arctic Fire (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Mount Brandon (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, bad mistake 1st and jumped poorly, no impression from 4 out, 17th of 18, dist behind Killer Miller (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Mydor (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear, no impression from before 2 out, 9th of 11, 23 1/4l behind Kitten Rock (11-12) at Navan 2m Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Rear of mid-division, mistake 5th and not fluent next, progress into 3rd 4 out, ridden and improved to dispute lead 2 out, led approaching last, bad mistake at last and headed, kept on again run-in without reaching winner, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Topper Thornton (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
On Fiddlers Green (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, led from 2nd, joined 6th, headed 9th, ridden entering straight, no impression from 2 out, 5th of 18, 18 1/4l behind Killer Miller (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Rare Legend (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Towards rear, 7th after 6th, slightly hampered 4 out where left 5th, soon detached, slow jump 3 out, weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Conal (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 6f mdn sft in Nov.
Roi Des Francs (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, slight mistake 4th, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 7th, improved to lead after 4 out, headed 3 out, ridden and no extra next, weakened entering straight, tailed off, 6th of 10, dist behind Killultagh Vic (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Shadow Play (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division early, mid-division halfway, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 11th of 18, dist behind Killer Miller (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Aunt Nora (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leader, dropped to 3rd at 5th, slight mistake next, hampered 7th, soon 4th, ridden 5 out, dropped to rear 3 out, soon no impression, 5th of 6, dist behind Emcon (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 3f Yielding in Oct.
Curragh Na Gold (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Towards rear, 9th at 4th, 10th after 3 out, good progress to 4th after 2 out, driven into 2nd before last where not fluent, ridden and kept on well, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Emcon (11-10) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
