chased leaders in 3rd, 2nd after 5th, improved to lead 3 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, soon headed, no extra before last, kept on same pace
tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd after 5th, improved to challenge 2 out, soon led, asserted before last, easily
chased leader in 2nd, dropped to 4th after 5th, ridden in 5th after 3 out, no extra
held up in 5th, last 4 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace
held up in last, jumped into 5th 4 out, pushed along in 4th and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace to 3rd close home
led, jumped slightly right, headed 3 out, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, lost 3rd close home
The wonderful Garde Champetre will be a teenager in a couple of months and will be warming up for the cross-country at Cheltenham so is unlikely to gain his 16th career victory here. Donnas Palm and PITTONI are the class acts here and preference is for the latter who arrives in top form having had an easy pipe-opener on the Flat at Leopardstown. A Group 1 winner over hurdles as a juvenile, he has a little to find with Donnas Palm on official ratings but Noel Meade's charge didn't jump very well on his reappearance at Tipperary behind The Real Article and will need more fluency at the obstacles this time.
Donnas Palm (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Waited with, slightly slow at some hurdles, niggled along briefly 5th, closer in 3rd approaching straight, no impression 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind The Real Article (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl G2 (1) sft.
Pittoni (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Mid-division early, 8th halfway, pushed along in 6th 2 out, improved in 3rd entering straight, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Feb beating Cass Bligh (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Loch Long (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, on terms approaching 2 out, led before last, strongly pressed and kept on well run-in, headed near finish, 3rd of 6, 1l behind Earls Quarter (11-12) at Galway 2m 2f nh nov hdl gd in Aug.
Garde Champetre (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 3 out, ridden after next, effort and every chance last, stayed on under pressure to chase winner towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Sizing Australia (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Moville (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Always in rear, no impression after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Un Hinged (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f nov chs gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Lucy Stone (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, headed 6 out, ridden 3 out, no extra in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Royal Reveille (11-6) at Navan 2m 6f hdl gd in Sep.
Great Value (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, went 3rd before 2 out, soon no chance with winner and dropped to moderate 4th at last, no extra, 5th of 12, 17l behind The Real Article (11-12) at Down Royal 2m hdl gd in Jun.
