tracked leaders, ridden in 5th after 2 out, 4th entering straight, no extra before last
rear of mid-division, closer in 5th at halfway, 6th and slight mistake 2 out, soon pushed along, moderate 5th at last, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on without threatening
disputed lead, headed 4th, niggled along briefly at times after, disputed lead and ridden 2 out, headed entering straight, 3rd at last, no extra run-in
mid-division, 7th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
disputed lead, led from 4th, joined and ridden 2 out, soon headed and no impression
rear of mid-division on inner, mistakes 1st and 5th, ridden 4 out, soon behind, trailing when mistake at last
in rear, mistake 7th, 8th 3 out, soon pushed along, 7th when fell 2 out
in rear, slight mistake 2nd, headway 4 out, went 3rd on outer 2 out, led entering straight, joined when slight mistake at last, soon ridden and narrowly headed, kept on well inside final furlong to strongly press winner to line
tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 3rd 3 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, disputed lead at last, led narrowly run-in, stayed on well, all out
HAWK EYE DOWN was a 25/1 chance when scoring comfortably over a bit further at Thurles but there was no fluke about the victory and that was only his second start over fences. He's ben hit with a 9lb rise but that's unlikely to prevent another big run. Don't Let Go wasn't beaten far by Head Turner, who runs earlier, at Fairyhouse though that was over the minimum trip. Rancher Lass was sent to Musselburgh and battled on for a hard-fought victory and it's interesting to see the return of Se Mo Laoch, who was heavily supported in a Sligo handicap hurdle last summer and won easily but was later disqualified when an illegal substance was detected. Witness Of Fashion is hardly getting any better but arrives in good form after a decent third at Fairyhouse.
Attalco (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 4 out and led next, pushed along and headed entering straight, soon no extra, behind and pulled up before last, at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Don't Let Go (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake 3 out, pushed along after 2 out and 4th before last, ridden and kept on run-in to go 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Head Turner (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Hand Of The King (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led and disputed, slightly slow 1st, inclined to jump right, headed from 9th, on terms again 13th, headed from 4 out, no extra and one pace from before 2 out, 4th of 7, 33 3/4l behind Rightback Atya (10-12) at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Jan.
Leader's Choice (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Soon led, headed before 4th where slight mistake, back on terms 6th, headed approaching 3 out, no extra from before next, 9th of 18, dist behind Hawk Eye Down (10-10) at Thurles 3m hcp sft in Feb.
Hawk Eye Down (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Prominent, led before 4th, joined 6th, led again approaching 3 out, went on straight and stayed on well run-in, won at Thurles 3m hcp sft in Feb beating Luckyinmilan (10-10) by 5 1/2l, 18 ran.
Lacken Bridge (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Always behind, slight mistake 2nd and mistake 5th, no impression from 5 out, never a factor, 7th of 8, dist behind Kemboy (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Jan.
Rancher Lass (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway before 9th, challenged 4 out, not fluent 2 out, soon led, edged right flat, held on, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gd in Dec beating Havana Jack (10-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Se Mo Laoch (IRE) 11-2jfav (11-2) Bumped 1st, chased leaders, 5th from 3rd, 3rd from 3 out, on terms before 2 out travelling smoothly, led approaching straight, ridden and stayed on well run-in to quickly assert, finished 1st, later disqualified for a banned substance, won at Sligo 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul beating Captains And Kings (11-1) by 5 1/2l, 15 ran.
Witness Of Fashion (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Nicole's Milan (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp hvy in Feb.
