led, headed before straight, soon dropped to 3rd and no impression, left 2nd and kept on without troubling winner from 2 out
tracked leader, dropped last of the 4 approaching straight, left poor 3rd from 2 out
waited with behind leaders, 2nd and challenged into straight, every chance when left clear 2 out, stayed on well
waited with behind leaders, a bit slow in jumping more than once, closed up to lead before straight, strongly pressed but every chance when ran out 2 out
There will be some long faces if SIR DES CHAMPS is beaten here as he looked a horse with enormous potential when easily scoring on his chasing bow at Fairyhouse and the Martin Pipe Conditionals winner looks one to follow until beaten. Knockfierna, a Grade 2 winner over timber, has taken really well to chasing and will prove a worthy opponent if running anywhere near as well as she did when beating Shop Dj in a Cork Grade 3 last time. Four Commanders ran into a high-class opponent when beaten by Last Instalment at Punchestown and looks better than Quietly Fancied, who will need to improve.
Four Commanders (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led, challenged 4 out, ridden and headed entering straight, disputed 2nd 2 out, 2nd last, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Last Instalment (11-3) at Punchestown 2m 6f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Nov.
Quietly Fancied (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, pressed and headed briefly entering straight, regained narrow lead and kept on well, strongly pressed last and headed run-in, no impression closing stages, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Crash (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs.
Sir Des Champs (FR) 2-7fav (11-12) Tracked leaders and travelled well throughout, close 3rd 4 out, led from 2 out, went clear before last, not extended, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chs sft beating Gran Torino (11-12) by 9l, 9 ran.
Knockfierna (IRE) 5-4fav (10-11) Chased leaders, jumped left 2nd and 3rd where slightly hampered, closer order approaching 4 out, left in lead next, drifted a bit left before 2 out, good jump and asserted from last, stayed on well, won at Cork 2m 1f mares nov chs Grade 3 (1) beating Shop Dj (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
