led, mistake at 1st, ridden and strongly pressed 3 out, soon headed, dropped to moderate 3rd 2 out, weakened run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake at 1st and not fluent at 6th, close 3rd 3 out, soon ridden in 2nd, no impression on winner 2 out, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead after 3 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly run-in, easily
held up in touch in 4th, not fluent at 4th, dropped to moderate last and ridden 3 out, soon no impression on leaders, went moderate 4th after last, kept on without threatening to go 3rd close home
held up in last, off pace at halfway, ridden and went moderate 4th 3 out, moderate 3rd before last, no impression on leaders, 4th close home
If Ginto is to start justifying his €470,000 purchase price he'll need to win this. A bumper and maiden hurdle winner on this track, this is by far his biggest test to date. He beat Shantreusse eight lengths in that bumper here and his stable companion Mr Fred Rogers beat the latter just under two lengths in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. The Little Yank was flattered by his proximity to Hollow Games in a Grade 3 on this track before failing to figure in a Grade A Fairyhouse handicap while Killarney maiden winner Edison Kent has plenty to find. ERIC BLOODAXE had very smart bumper form and made an ideal start over hurdles at Naas where he jumped very well. This is much tougher but he's taken to see off the Elliott duo.
Edison Kent (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Prominent, on terms 2nd where bumped with rival, slight mistake 6th, slight mistake 7th, headed when impeded and almost fell 4 out, pulled up approaching 3 out, at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Eric Bloodaxe (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Close up on outer, 2nd after 2nd, improved to lead before last, ridden and asserted run-in, comfortably, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn Yielding - Soft in Nov beating Supreme Jet (12-0) by 8l, 14 ran.
Ginto (FR) 3-10fav (12-0) Made almost all, jumped right, pushed along and joined briefly after 3 out, ridden to regain lead 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Navan 2m 4f mdn gd in Nov beating Benny The Duke (11-13) by 5 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mr Fred Rogers (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Slight mistake 1st, prominent, soon raced in 2nd, 3rd from 6th, pushed along approaching straight, led run-in, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m 5f mdn Good - Yielding in Nov beating Shantreusse (12-0) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
The Little Yank (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, 10th before 6th, lost place before 2 out, progress before last, kept on run-in, no danger, 10th of 18, 9 3/4l behind Gua Du Large (10-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Nov.
