towards rear, reminder 2nd, closer in 7th 5 out, moderate 5th before straight, soon no impression
soon close up, led 5 out, strongly pressed and narrowly headed before 2 out, no extra and kept on same pace run-in
held up, closer order from 5 out, struggling in moderate 4th before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace
chased leaders, no extra from 5 out, tailed off
soon mid-division, struggling in moderate 6th from before straight, soon no impression and kept on without threatening
towards rear, jumped big 3rd, soon no danger
soon tracked leaders, dropped to moderate 3rd and struggling from before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace
soon mid-division, good headway to be close up 5 out, pushed along before straight, gained narrow lead before 2 out, stayed on well under pressure to draw clear run-in
led, joined approaching 4th, headed 5 out, pushed along next, soon weakened
prominent, lost place from after 5 out, soon no impression
tracked leaders, 5th after 3 out, no impression from before straight
soon mid-division, 8th 5 out, no impression and kept on same pace from after 3 out
chased leaders, 6th 5 out, soon weakened and pulled up entering straight
A very solid entry for the money and the veteran chaser Mansony adds interest though it's a long time since he raced over hurdles. Just Friends is another who is reverting to hurdles but he's been in very good form over fences and won't be inconvenienced stepping back to the smaller obstacles. Jack Cool was having his first start since October when down the field at Cork last month but was in fine form previously and will have come on for that outing. Sherchanceit looked useful when scoring at Killarney last summer and though not repeating that effort in subsequent starts she is capable of a big run here. Peacock's Pride returns from a long break and should be better on faster going so the vote goes to GIFT OF DGAB, who finally got off the mark when beating a huge field at Navan and can go on from that.
Action Master 9-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway into 11th 2 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, 9th of 17, 10l behind Pittoni (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Feb.
Gift Of Dgab (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Always prominent, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 3 out, strongly pressed from next, briefly headed approaching last, led again early run-in and kept on best under pressure, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb beating Popcorn (11-12) by 2l, 25 ran.
Nakajima Nate (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up, 7th 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 6th of 10, 6l behind According To Him (9-13) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl gf in May.
Peacock's Pride 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, steady headway from halfway, challenged from early straight, led after 2 out and soon stretched clear, kept on well, won at Cork 2m 5yo mdn hdl gf in May beating Bravely Fought (11-12) by 5l, 24 ran.
Prince Of Fire (GER) 20-1 (10-3) In rear, hampered 5th, never on terms, 13th of 24, 37l behind Alarazi (10-3) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Mar.
Some Slam (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Slowly away and held up in rear, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Whodoyouthink (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 1f hcp hdl 8Evens30 sft in Jan.
Rory Anna (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leader on outer mainly 3rd, challenged approaching last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Arklow Ger (10-0) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 88-130 in Feb.
Jack Cool (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th 5 out, no impression from after next, 8th of 14, 17l behind Temlett (10-5) at Cork 2m hcp hdl in Mar.
Just Friends (IRE) 13-2 (9-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden into 3rd 3 out, left 2nd, kept on under pressure from before next, not match winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind The Sneezer (9-10) at Gowran Park 2m hcp chs sft in Mar.
Mansony (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Disputed lead and kept to wide outside throughout, slow 4 out and lost place, disputed again briefly approaching straight, no extra and weakened after 2 out, last of 3, 26l behind Golden Silver (11-12) at Naas 2m chs Grd 2 (1) in Feb.
Splurge (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up, 9th 5 out, soon no extra, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rakamasi (9-11) at Naas 2m hcp chs 0-109 in Jan, 14 ran.
Vital Plot (USA) 50-1 (10-9) Never a factor, 16th of 26, 39l behind Final Approach (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft in Jan.
Sherchanceit (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders in 3rd early, 4th halfway, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after 3 out (found to be in season post race), in a race won by Red Key (11-3) at Listowel 2m hdl gd in Sep, 6 ran.
Sounds of Jupiter (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Led, headed 3rd, remained close up, ridden and weakening when pecked badly 2 out, no extra, last of 19, well behind Peak Raider (9-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Feb.
The Pier (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Held up in last, no impression from 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Hidden Cyclone (11-8) at Thurles 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
