led, headed approaching 6th but clear of remainder with eventual winner, on terms from before 2 out, not fluent last, soon headed and kept on without matching winner
chased leaders, badly hampered 2nd, moderate 5th at 5th, one pace approaching straight
mid-division early, impeded 2nd, moderate 6th at 5th, no impression when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, soon close up, led approaching 6th and clear of remainder with 2nd, joined from before 2 out, regained lead and kept on well from last
waited with, impeded 2nd, moderate 8th at 5th, no extra from before straight
waited with towards rear, impeded 2nd, some headway to chase leaders but no impression approaching straight, one pace
waited with towards rear early, impeded 2nd, soon chased leaders, moderate 4th at 5th, one pace from before straight, slight mistake 2 out
waited with towards rear, impeded 2nd, no danger when impeded 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
waited with towards rear, impeded 2nd, never a factor, impeded 3 out, no extra
tracked leaders, not fluent and unseated rider 2nd
prominent, a little slow 1st, a little keen, not fluent and unseated rider 2nd
waited with, impeded 2nd, moderate 7th at 5th, no impression when brought down 3 out
soon chased leaders, moderate 3rd at 5th, kept on same pace from before straight
Morning Skye, a winner twice on the Flat in the UK when trained by Hugo Palmer, found only the useful Lethal Steps too good at Sligo two weeks ago but is up against a lightly-raced debutant of some potential in STRONGHOLD. Joseph O’Brien’s four-year-old ran only five times on the Flat and was in good form at Dundalk at the start of the year, winning easily over 1m4f. Melburnian won on the Flat in France and is improving with experience over timber so likely to take a further step forward here.
Morning Skye (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders and 4th from halfway, went 3rd from 3 out and pushed along after next, no impression before last and kept on into 2nd run-in, not troubling winner, 2nd of 14, 6 1/2l behind Lethal Steps (11-7) at Sligo 2m 2f mdn Good - Yielding in Apr.
Stronghold (FR) Evensfav (9-0) Disputed briefly, soon chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to challenge 2f out, disputed 1f out, edged ahead close home, won at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Jan beating California Lad (9-3) by nk, 9 ran.
All The Angels 100-1 (10-9) Mid-division and 6th from halfway, pushed along from 2 out, soon no impression, 10th of 13, dist behind Flindt (11-0) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn Yielding in Apr.
Cahirdown Boy (IRE) Yeats gelding out of Lucy's Legend.
Feel Des Mottes (FR) (10-1) 3rd of 12, 15l behind Figatelle (9-7) at Durtal 1m 3f gd in May.
Frere Fontaine (FR) 66-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, no extra from 4 out, 16th of 18, dist behind Breaken (11-12) at Limerick 2m mdn gd in Mar.
Jiving Jerry (IRE) Jeremy gelding out of Toppolesa.
Optum (IRE) Westerner gelding out of Anshan Bay.
Poets Mountain (IRE) Urban Poet gelding out of Little Linnet.
Spiritus Mundi (IRE) Yeats gelding out of Maiden City.
Thousand Tears (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, ridden and weakened 5f out, completely tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Sellarbridge (11-7) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Feb.
Melburnian (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Waited with, soon towards rear, slight mistake 4 out, headway straight, chasing leaders but no impression when not fluent last, kept on without threatening, 6th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Bua Boy (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Apr.
Imperial Choice (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, slightly hampered at 1st, slight mistake next, mistake and rider briefly lost iron 3rd, no impression from halfway, 7th of 16, 36 3/4l behind Way Back Home (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn gd in Feb.
Mary Ellis (IRE) Thewayyouare filly out of Courageuse.
