held up towards rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
held up in rear, not fluent early, trailing halfway, tailed off
disputed early, tracked leader after 1st, not fluent 2nd, reached for 6th, 2nd halfway, no extra entering straight, weakened before last where mistake
tracked leaders, moderate 3rd before 4th, 4th halfway, pushed along briefly 3 out, soon closer, ridden into 2nd entering straight, no impression on leader before last, kept on one pace
prominent early, pecked 1st and soon held up behind leaders, progress into moderate 3rd halfway, jumped right at 7th, closer after 3 out, bad mistake and unseated rider 2 out
disputed early, led after 1st, asserted entering straight, quickened clear run-in, impressive
tracked leaders early, dropped towards rear 5th, moderate 6th and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace into moderate 4th last
held up, progress into moderate 4th 4 out, closer after 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression before last, kept on one pace
Willie Mullins has won three of the last four and saddles Ho My Lord, who made a superb chasing debut behind odds-on stablemate Il Etait Temps at Thurles with Monbeg Park eight lengths back in fourth. Feu Du Bresil also represents the yard and he also made a very promising start over fences behind stablemate Mister Policeman at Fairyhouse where Walk With Paul was well beaten. Firm Footings couldn't quite hold off Spillane's Tower at Punchestown but all eyes here will be on MARINE NATIONALE. Unbeaten in five starts including two Grade 1 races, last season's leading novice hurdler doesn't particularly have a chaser's pedigree but was all class over timber and is expected to make a successful transition.
Dreal Deal (IRE) 28-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra over 2f out, 9th of 11, 14 1/4l behind A Piece Of Heaven (9-6) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Dec.
Dutch Schultz 9-4 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along 2 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, soon held and blundered last, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Slugger (10-13) at Kelso 2m (4) gs in Oct.
Feu Du Bresil (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, led 3 out, travelling well 2 out, pushed along and pressed before last, ridden run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Mister Policeman (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Firm Footings (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, closed 3 out, pushed along after 3 out, bumped and hampered 2 out, improved to lead narrowly before last, kept on run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 5, hd behind Spillane's Tower (11-5) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
Ho My Lord (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 5th after 6th, 4th after 7th, improved to 3rd before 2 out, progress to 2nd last where not fluent, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Il Etait Temps (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f Yielding in Nov.
Marine Nationale (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway travelling well from 3 out, shaken up and went 2nd before last, edged left, led and bumped flat, quickened away, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar beating Facile Vega (11-7) by 3 1/4l, 14 ran.
Monbeg Park (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Prominent, in touch at 4th, 3rd after 6th, 4th before 2 out, no impression on leaders before last, one paced, 4th of 10, 13l behind Il Etait Temps (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f Yielding in Nov.
Walk With Paul (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Towards rear, not fluent 6th, progress entering straight, pushed along in 5th 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, kept on same pace run-in, 6th of 10, 18l behind Mister Policeman (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Reversal (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along in moderate 6th after 3 out, no impression, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Chigorin (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f mdn hvy in Dec.
