towards rear, headway from 3 out, 2nd and ridden 2 out, dropped to 4th at last, no extra
tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, niggled along halfway, weakened from 3 out
mid-division, progress into5th 4 out, slight mistake next, ridden and no impression straight
mid-division, closer in 4th and ridden 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on to go 2nd run-in
in rear, ridden and no impression from 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden in 7th before 2 out, no extra
led, joined 4 out, soon headed and weakened, eased from 2 out
tracked leaders, 3rd3 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when virtually pulled up run-in, completely tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 2nd at last, dropped to 3rd and no extra run-in
rear of mid-division, progress from 3 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, no extra
prominent, disputed lead briefly 4 out, improved to lead after 3 out, ridden from 2 out, stayed on well from last
prominent, disputed lead 4 out, soon led, ridden and weakened from 2 out
Sherika ploughed through the Thurles mud to land a handicap last month but a 10lb rise looks plenty and this is tougher. Miss Xian is only 3lb higher than when scoring at Fairyhouse last month and will have found the trip too short last time so goes onto the short-list. UNOCCUPIED didn't go unbacked when slamming Twin Plan at Thurles recently and, as that was only his seventh start over hurdles, he's entitled to make further progress and can take this. Oscars Business easily scored over fences at Limerick in December before running well in a better race than this back over timber at Punchestown. He should be thereabouts while Brian Who has been running well and is another to consider.
Free To Dream (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Held up, mainly 7th, hampered 3 out, soon ridden in moderate 5th, no impression, 5th of 8, 38l behind Pont Alexandre (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) in Jan.
Steady Ed (IRE) 4-1fav (9-11) Always towards rear, pulled up after 6th, in a race won by Lookoutnow (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp chs 0-123 hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Oscars Business (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden and no impression 2 out, moderate 10th entering straight, kept on one pace, 6th of 22, 16l behind Colbert Station (10-5) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl hvy.
Acapulco (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division best, never a factor, 17th of 26, 44l behind Shariyan (11-1) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Jan.
Good Fella (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Soon towards rear, trailing halfway, kept on one pace straight, 15th of 18, well behind Bog Warrior (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Dec.
The Crafty Butcher (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, moderate 13th 2 out, kept on one pace straight, 10th of 26, 23l behind Shariyan (11-1) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Jan.
Katys Girl (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on inner, 6th halfway, 4th 5 out but no extra after next, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Missie Ella (10-4) at Thurles 3m hcp hdl 80-116 hvy, 13 ran.
Schinkel (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden along in 7th 3 out and no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on same pace without threatening, 4th of 15, 12l behind Fever Pitch (11-8) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 in Dec.
Sherika (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, headway approaching straight and challenged 2 out, soon led and asserted before last, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Jan beating Drawn N Drank (11-2) by 4l, 16 ran.
Brian Who (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, 12th 2 out, ridden into 8th last, kept on same pace, 5th of 26, 8l behind Shariyan (11-1) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Jan.
Miss Xian (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Led and disputed, ridden and headed entering straight, soon no impression, 6th of 9, 29l behind Dactik (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 80-116 hvy.
Unoccupied 10-1 (11-9) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, headway to dispute 3 out and led entering straight, kept on under pressure in straight and maintaining 1 length advantage when left clear last, kept on run-in, won at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-95 hvy beating Twin Plan (10-11) by 8l, 15 ran.
