chased leaders, not fluent 4th, 3rd after 8th, pushed along in 2nd before straight, no extra from before 2 out where slight mistake, one pace
made virtually all, went on before straight, soon reduced lead, pushed out and stayed on well run-in
prominent, a little keen, mistake 2nd and chased leaders after, 4th after 8th, mistake 3 out, pushed along in 5th before straight, no impression and not fluent 2 out, soon no extra
chased leaders early, slight mistake 8th and raced in 5th, took closer order 6th, slight mistake and pecked 5 out, chased winner and jumped slightly right 2 out, kept on without matching winner run-in
prominent early, soon chased leaders, 6th after 8th and pushed along briefly, not fluent 10th, pushed along again 4 out, soon no extra
chased leaders early, soon towards rear, 7th after 8th, 6th and pushed along before straight, soon no impression, moderate 4th and bad mistake last and almost unseated rider, kept on same pace run-in for 4th
waited with, keen towards rear early, closed up to be prominent from 2nd and raced in 2nd, slight mistake 6th, weakened straight and bad mistake 2 out
waited with in rear, slightly slow 5th and pushed along briefly and at stages after, reminders after 7th, no danger 6 out, bad mistake 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
Gordon Elliott has a strong hand with PENCILFULLOFLEAD and Escaria Ten. The former, an easy Grade 2 winner on his second start over fences at Punchestown, just failed to concede 7lb to Colreevy in Grade 1 the Faugheen at Limerick and the winner sauntered home at Thurles during the week. His stable companion receives 8lb and could hardly have been more impressive at Thurles, coming clear for a 20 length victory, but Eurobot, another very easy winner on the same track in November, paid for mistakes in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month. Rachael Blackmore chooses Punchestown winner Eklat De Rire over Eleazar Des Neiges and her mount looked a very progressive type on the latter track last month.
Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) In touch, took closer order in 2nd before 5th, 3rd at 9th where not fluent, 2nd after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led narrowly after 2 out, ridden run-in, headed closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Colreevy (11-5) at Limerick 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Eklat De Rire (FR) 2-1fav (12-0) Disputed lead early, a little keen, soon led, jumped well, disputed at times, headed from 10th, led again from 3 out, joined after 2 out, regained lead before last, ridden out and stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 2f hvy in Dec beating School Boy Hours (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Eleazar Des Neiges (FR) 5-1 (12-0) Led early, ran freely, slight mistake 1st, tracked leaders and 4th halfway, 3rd 5 out, pushed along and left in front 2 out, joined last, ridden and kept on, headed final 50 yards and no impression, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Forza Milan (12-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Jan.
Escaria Ten (FR) 6-5fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to challenge 2 out and led entering straight, soon asserted and clear approaching last, kept on well, easily, won at Thurles 3m 1f sft in Dec beating Ministerforsport (12-0) by 20l, 8 ran.
Eurobot 12-1 (11-12) Chased leader, 5th after 7th, pecked badly at 11th and unseated rider, at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Forza Milan (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Prominent and led briefly 3rd, tracked leader and 3rd halfway, slight mistake 9th and 4th 5 out, no impression when left moderate 3rd 2 out, closer before last, kept on well run-in and led final 50 yards, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Jan beating Eleazar Des Neiges (12-0) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, jumped right at 1st, led before 3rd, jumped right throughout, headed at 10th, dropped to 4th at 11th, no impression in moderate 3rd at last where ran out, at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Miss Pernickety (IRE) 4-7fav (11-9) Tracked leaders in 4th, slight mistake 3rd, not fluent at 5th and reminders, ridden at 7th, headway into 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f hvy in Jan beating New Money (11-9) by 5 1/2l, 6 ran.
