led, not always fluent jumping, strongly pressed from before 2 out, rider without irons run-in and edged left, headed and one pace closing stages
raced in 4th, closed up and prominent on outer from 3 out, travelling smoothly into straight, challenged from before 2 out, stayed on well run-in to lead closing stages
prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along briefly after 7th, 4th 4f out, dropped to last approaching straight, weakened
prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along approaching straight, soon no extra in 4th, slight mistake 2 out
in rear, slight mistake 5 out and pushed along briefly, reminder after 3 out, soon closed, 3rd straight, no extra and one pace from 2 out
Four of the last seven renewals have gone to Willie Mullins’ yard and he runs two with Fast Buck preferred to Blazing Emily. The latter won a maiden hurdle last time while the former landed a Listed event over a shorter trip at Galway for which he’s penalised. But the progressive DARVER STAR has returned from a lay-off in fine style and notched-up a hat-trick with a defeat of subsequent winner Doctor Duffy over 2m4f at Listowel despite carrying a penalty. Gavin Cromwell’ charge has plenty in hand at the weights with Gordon Elliott’s duo Everybreathyoutake and Milan Native and gets the vote.
Fast Buck (FR) 2-1fav (11-6) Soon led, went on travelling smoothly from 2 out, pushed along into straight, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Galway 2m lst (1) gd in Jul beating Turnpike Trip (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Darver Star (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Raced in 2nd, on terms before straight travelling smoothly, led approaching 2 out, asserted and stayed on well closing stages, easily, won at Listowel 2m 4f Yielding in Sep beating Doctor Duffy (11-10) by 3l, 5 ran.
Everybreathyoutake (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Soon prominent, disputed 2nd after 5th, challenged 3 out, soon on terms on inner, led before 2 out, pressed and slight mistake last, narrowly headed run-in, one pace and dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Macgiloney (11-6) at Down Royal 3m gd in Aug.
Milan Native (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Waited with, 10th from 3rd, disputed 8th before straight, kept on without matching principals from before last, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Dommage Pour Toi (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Blazing Emily (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Made virtually all, went on before 2 out where pecked, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Listowel 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep beating Sand Fly (11-7) by 4 1/4l, 18 ran.