held up in touch, not fluent 1st, slow 4th and next, 3rd at 7th, 2nd 3 out, closed on leader when slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and challenged last, led after last, pushed out final 100 yards
led or disputed, led 7th, headed 6 out, pushed along and reminder after 4 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd before next, 5th 2 out, no extra
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, pushed along and no impression in 5th before 2 out, 4th 2 out, ridden before last, kept on one pace
led or disputed, headed 7th, led 6 out, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along before next, strongly pressed when slight mistake last, headed after last, ridden and no impression, kept on one pace
held up in touch, 5th halfway, 4th 3 out, no impression in 3rd 2 out, pushed along before last, stayed on well run-in, nearest finish
tracked leaders in close 3rd, 4th at 7th, dropped to rear 3 out, ridden and no extra before 2 out
Darrens Hope looks to have lost his way since landing a Grade 2 at Punchestown in the autumn but Thedevilscoachman won a Grade 3 at Naas in January and is the top rated in this. However, he had only a couple of lengths to spare over GRANDERO BELLO at Galway in October and the Hartys’ gelding is 7lb better off here despite having made all in a big field at Gowran last month. Life In The Park is still something of an unknown quantity but he hasn’t raced since tailed off in a three-runner field at Cheltenham in October.
Thedevilscoachman (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Mid-division, towards rear after 3rd, 3rd after 10th, not fluent at 11th and soon 4th, 5th before 12th, left 4th 4 out, not much room and bumped after 2 out, no room in 3rd last, stayed on well in 2nd closing stages, held, promoted to 1st, 2nd of 5, at Naas 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Darrens Hope (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led, slow 2nd, headed 8th, 4th and pushed along after 4 out, slow next and dropped to rear, no extra in straight, last of 5, 30 1/4l behind Brides Hill (10-9) at Thurles 2m 6f lst (1) gd in Feb.
Clonmeen (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Towards rear, progress to 4th before 8th, 5th 3 out where left 4th, improved to 3rd before 2 out, ridden and stayed on in 2nd before last, kept on in clear 2nd run-in, not trouble winner, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Ballykeel (11-9) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f Yielding in Feb.
Grandero Bello (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Made all, increased advantage before 3rd, reduced lead before 4th, 3 lengths clear after 10th, not fluent 2 out, kept on well, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Macs Charm (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 16 ran.
Life In The Park (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Led until before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 3, dist behind Chemical Energy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Seangoell (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Towards rear, some headway after 3 out and moderate 9th entering straight, kept on one pace, never a factor, 8th of 13, 24 1/4l behind Routine Excellence (11-12) at Thurles 2m 5f hcp sft in Mar.
