mid-division, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, no impression
mid-division, progress 4 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, went 4th at last, kept on same pace
always towards rear, never a factor
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 2 out, soon pushed along and went clear, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, comfortably
took keen hold and disputed lead, led from 4th, slight mistake next, not fluent at 7th, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner at last, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, 8th 4 out, weakened from next, soon behind
held up in last and raced off pace, took keen hold, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
tracked leaders on outer, slight mistake 4th, went 2nd next, ridden in 4th before 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in
rear of mid-division, some progress entering straight, ridden in 9th 2 out, no impression
rear of mid-division on outer, ridden in 8th 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 7th before 2 out, no impression
disputed lead, headed at 4th, ridden and weakened from 4 out
Mark Walsh has chosen DE NAME ESCAPES ME of J P McManus' five entries for this very competitive handicap and his mount ended the last campaign with a very close third in a similar event at Punchestown. He can come out on top here though the owner's Plinth has a course and distance victory to his credit and ran a fine race in a Tipperary Grade 3 last time while the stable also run Air Supremacy on his handicap debut. The latter looked a nice prospect when completing a double in maiden and novice company and was injured when tackling a Listed race at Limerick last time. Brex Drago has had a run on the Flat since completing a hat-trick over timber but looks high enough in the weights and Slippery Serpent, runner-up to Gavin Cromwell's charge at Listowel before scoring at Punchestown, should have his measure on these terms. Fitzhenry was in fine form over fences last winter and reverts to hurdles on an 11lb lower mark but his stable look to have a better chance with Rooster Byron, who completed a hat-trick in the spring though has a 10lb rise to overcome.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in touch, 6th from 3rd, pushed along at stages, some headway on inner approaching 3 out where mistake 3 out, no extra from before straight and eased, 8th of 9, dist behind Pravalaguna (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 4f Yielding in Apr.
Plinth (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) In rear, headway and effort to chase leaders but no impression from 2 out, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Bedrock (11-7) at Tipperary 2m (1) gd in Oct.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in moderate 5th, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 6th and soon last, slight mistake 7th, pushed along after 4 out, no impression before straight, weakened, 5th of 6, dist behind Rashaan (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f gd in Jul.
De Name Escapes Me (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Rear of mid-division, short of room 3 out, progress on inner next, ridden entering straight, went 4th at last, kept on in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 25, 1 3/4l behind A Great View (11-1) at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Brex Drago (ITY) 20-1 (8-12) Soon raced in 15th, effort towards outer straight, no impression 2f out, 13th of 24, 14 1/2l behind Brazos (8-12) at Navan 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Air Supremacy (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) In touch, 3rd after 4th, lost place and not fluent at 7th, mistake 4 out, not fluent 3 out and soon niggled along in rear, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 6, 22 1/2l behind Percy Veer (11-2) at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Mr Diablo (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leader, mistake 3rd, soon dropped to rear, mistake 8th, behind from 6 out, ridden and no impression 4 out, weakened and completely tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Ballycasey (11-10) at Killarney 2m 5f (1) sft in May.
Fitzhenry (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Rear of mid-division, closer in mid-division at halfway, 4th 3 out, went 2nd on inner next and ridden, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Glencairn View (10-10) at Navan 3m hcp hvy in Mar.
Slippery Serpent (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Raced in 2nd early, led from 3rd, made rest, ridden run-in, stayed on well, reduced advantage close home, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct beating Steel Wave (11-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Russian Bill (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 1st, weakened from 4 out, never a factor, 9th of 14, dist behind Our Duke (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Chisholm Trail (IRE) 6-1cfav (11-3) Mid-division, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened and pulled up before last, at Thurles 2m 4f hcp gf in Nov.
Randalls Ur Poet (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, progress to 3rd after 3rd, 4th at 8th, progress to 3rd 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened in 4th before last, 4th of 7, 18 1/4l behind Dorrells Pierji (11-7) at Galway 2m 5f Yielding in Oct.
Vision D'Ete (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division, 14th after 7th, progress to 9th and niggled along after 2 out, 7th at last, ridden and kept on to 5th final strides, never nearer, 5th of 19, 12 1/4l behind Suinda (10-4) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Rooster Byron (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Settled mid-division, progress into 4th after 4 out, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out where slight mistake, pushed out to assert before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, eased close home, won at Cork 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in May beating Ask Susan (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
