led, joined before 8th, led at 8th, headed and not fluent at 10th, disputed 3 out, travelled well to lead before 2 out, asserted before last, easily
prominent, soon settled 3rd, not fluent at 2nd, 2nd at 5th, mistake at 7th, jockey lost reins briefly, on terms before 8th, 2nd at 8th, led narrowly at 10th, disputed 3 out, dropped to 4th before 2 out, weakened, eased run-in
soon raced 4th, 5th at 5th, no impression before 2 out where mistake, kept on same pace run-in to 4th
rear, 4th at 5th, niggled along after 3 out, progress to 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner, dropped to 3rd at alst, kept on same pace
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd at 5th, closer in 3rd before 9th where not fluent, ridden after 3 out, no impression on winner, 2nd at last, kept on same pace
Sub Lieutenant won a Grade 3 for Sandra Hughes at Naas in March before taking on top company. He's now with Henry De Bromhead who will be keen to get him off to a good start and add to that one victory over fences. VENITIEN DE MAI has thrived since tackling fences completing a double in the spring before a fair effort in the Irish Grand National. He looks one to kick on this campaign and the 9lb he receives from Sub Lieutenant should be enough to see him back in the winner's enclosure. Shadow Catcher also has to concede him weight but he's certainly not out of this after his excellent run in the Galway Plate though that appeared to have taken its toll when he pulled up in the Kerry National. Pairofbrowneyes completed a double when landing a very competitive handicap here in December and was placed twice at the Punchestown Festival in April. A recent spin in a Grade 2 will have put him spot on and he holds a fitness advantage over a couple of his main rivals.
Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on outer, disputed lead from 6 out, hampered after 5 out and headed 4 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, 4th at last, kept on without threatening in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Zabana (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Shadow Catcher 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, mid-division before halfway, weakened from 10th, pulled up before 11th, at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
Venitien De Mai (FR) 7-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, mistake 16th, pushed along in 8th 3 out, no impression after next, 9th of 27, 21 1/4l behind Rogue Angel (10-9) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Jarob 14-1 (11-9) Prominent, slight mistakes 6th and 7th, pushed along 4 out, no extra next, 10th of 13, 26 1/2l behind Black Warrior (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Pairofbrowneyes (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Pecked 1st, soon raced in 5th, not fluent 6th, improved and pushed along in 2nd before straight, dropped to moderate 5th 2 out, no extra, 5th of 8, 23 1/2l behind Ballycasey (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
