tracked leaders on outer, ridden in 3rd entering straight, dropped to 5th 2 out, no impression
tracked leader disputing 2nd, 3rd 4 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd at last, kept on well run-in
led, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression, dropped to 4th at last
tracked leader disputing 2nd, went close 2nd 4 out, led 2 out and soon ridden clear, reduced advantage inside final furlong, kept on well
always towards rear, mistake 2nd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
held up towards rear on inner, last 4 out, headway after next, pushed along in 4th after 2 out, ridden in 3rd at last, kept on run-in
mid-division, ridden in 5th after 3 out, soon no impression
Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott had 11 of the 17 original entries between them and have half of today's field. The former looks to have the edge with NEXT DESTINATION, who was hugely impressive when beating Elliott's Cracking Smart in a Navan Grade 2 though the runner-up was battling on and can finish closer. The champion trainer also runs French import and minor winner Duc Des Genievres, who hasn't run since May, while Elliott's Blow By Blow, a top-class bumper who is gradually getting his act together over hurdles, could snatch a prize at a decent price. Winning point-to-pointer Speak Easy looked a smart prospect at Navan and though needing to improve has every chance of doing so.
Blow By Blow (IRE) 1-3fav (11-12) Prominent, slightly slow 8th, closed travelling smoothly before 3 out, under pressure from next, led and stayed on best closing stages, won at Navan 2m 7f mdn hvy in Dec beating As You Were (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Cracking Smart (FR) 7-4 (11-3) Raced in 2nd, slight mistake 4th, pushed along approaching straight, lost place 2 out and not fluent, 2nd again and kept on without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 5 1/2l behind Next Destination (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Jetz (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Raced in 4th, 3rd before 4th, slight mistake 7th, lost place and not fluent 3 out, dropped to last from 2 out, kept on well into 3rd again without threatening closing stages, 3rd of 5, 7 1/4l behind Next Destination (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Moyross 7-4 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, closed travelling smoothly straight, challenged 2 out, on terms between last 2, pushed out to lead from last and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Cork 3m Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Minella Beau (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Next Destination (IRE) 10-11fav (11-3) Raced in 3rd, 4th before 4th, closed and mistake 3 out, switched right before 2 out, led last, pushed out to soon assert, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Navan 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec beating Cracking Smart (11-3) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Athenean (IRE) 6-4fav (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent at 1st, took closer order after 3rd, 5th after 4 out, closed 3 out, soon led narrowly, not fluent at last, driven out, won at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Dec beating Lighthouse Warrier (11-12) by 5l, 18 ran.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) (10-6) won at Moulins 2m 3f gd in May
Speak Easy 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, niggled along briefly at 4th and again at 7th, close 6th 2 out, pushed along and good headway to lead after last, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Navan 2m mdn sft in Dec beating Dis Donc (11-7) by 6l, 21 ran.
