led, jumped well, joined entering straight, ridden 3 out, headed before next, 3rd before last, kept on well in 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, close 3rd entering straight, pushed along in 3rd 2 out, ridden to lead at last, stayed on well run-in
held up in touch disputing 4th, 4th when slight mistake at 8th, disputed 3rd entering straight, ridden in 4th and slight mistake 3 out, no impression from next
held up in touch disputing 4th, last and slight mistake at 6th, last when ridden and mistake 3 out, no impression, slight mistake 2 out
tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead entering straight, ridden and led before 2 out, strongly pressed and headed at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
Castlebrook is ideally suited by testing conditions as he showed when making all for an impressive chasing debut at Wexford though he faces much better rivals. Getabird, a Grade 2 winning hurdler, made an impressive chasing bow at Punchestown last December then was beaten narrowly in a Limerick Grade 1 before finding 3m too far back at Punchestown. Mengli Khan also made a successful chasing debut on the later track a year ago but failed to make the expected progress and was beaten a distance on his reappearance at Down Royal. MORTAL beat the smart Any Second Now on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse then took on the very best young chasers in his next three starts. He looks the type to go on to better things this campaign and gets the nod. Paloma Blue beat the very useful Moon Over Germany at Leopardstown in December and is another who can do better this season.
Castlebrook (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led and disputed, mainly jumped well, went on from 7th, reduced lead approaching straight, pushed along to assert when jumped slightly right 2 out, slight mistake last, eased run-in, comfortably, won at Wexford 2m 4f hvy in Oct beating Stones And Roses (11-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
Getabird (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Waited with in rear early, took keen hold, chased leaders from before 3rd, 3rd from 6th, mistake 4 out, dropped to 5th before next, no extra approaching straight, pulled up before last, at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Soon disputed lead, slight mistake 4th, mistake 9th and headed, ridden and dropped to last before 3 out, bad mistake and trailing 3 out, no impression, jumped right at last, last of 4, dist behind Real Steel (11-5) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Mortal (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up in rear on inside, headway 3 out, every chance home turn, beaten from 2 out, no extra, 5th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Topofthegame (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Paloma Blue (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led, jumped left 3rd, joined briefly 5th, headed after 4 out, prominent when slight mistake next, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Elimay (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 4f Yielding in May.
