chased leaders, soon moderate 3rd, slight mistakes 4 out and 3 out, soon closed, 2nd before straight, gained narrow lead 2 out travelling smoothly, ridden out run-in and stayed on well to assert, comfortably
led, took keen hold and clear, hit 3rd, reduced lead 3 out, narrowly headed next, dropped to 3rd last, no extra and eased run-in
chased leader, soon moderate 2nd, closed 3 out, pushed along approaching straight, soon 3rd, 4th 2 out, not fluent last, one pace run-in
held up, moderate 4th from 2nd, closed 3 out, 3rd and not fluent 2 out, edged left before last where 2nd, no impression and one pace run-in
held up, detached in last from 2nd, not fluent 3 out, closed at last where not fluent, one pace run-in
Kitten Rock did well in France and has improved since joining Edward O'Grady. His two victories in March were on heavy going and he was just touched off by Ivan Grozny in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 before a decent effort in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. Morga burst a blood vessel when beaten a distance behind the in-form Little King Robin at Bellewstown but she started favourite that day on the back of several useful performances. Henry Higgins competed at a very high level last season and has been in cracking form, recently scoring on the Flat at Leopardstown before easily landing the odds at Gowran but Gerdago, who looked potentially useful when runner-up to Guitar Pete at Down Royal a year ago, hasn't progressed as expected and was a long way behind ANALIFET in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 in December. Willie Mullins' filly was ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle when starting long odds-on at Punchestown on St Steven's Day but injured a pelvis and pulled up. She'll have bigger targets than this later but this will do for starters.
Kitten Rock (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 8th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 6th entering straight, kept on one paced, 4th of 13, 10l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in May.
Analifet (FR) 3-10fav (10-8) Led, raced freely, pulled up injured after 3rd, in a race won by Guitar Pete (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec, 5 ran.
Gerdago (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Soon led, slight mistake 4th, headed after 3 out, no impression in 5th and mistake next, no extra, kept on one pace, 6th of 16, 13l behind Stocktons Wing (11-4) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 0-150.
Henry Higgins (IRE) 4-11fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to lead 2 out, quickened clear run-in, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Oct beating Little Haarth (11-7) by 9l, 7 ran.
Morga (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Soon settled towards rear, 5th when slightly slow 3rd, landed awkwardly 4th, a little slow at 5th, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon no extra and eased, completely tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Little King Robin (11-8) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hdl gd in Aug.
