soon led and disputed, headed from 4th, prominent, on terms again 3 out, headed from 2 out, no extra when not fluent last, one pace
waited with 12th at 5th, slightly impeded 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, soon no impression, pulled up before last
close up and disputed, led from 4th, jumped right 6th and inclined to do so after, joined approaching 7th where headed and a little slow, back on terms 5 out, a little slow 4 out and headed, impeded 3 out, soon no extra
soon mid-division, not fluent 2nd, 10th at 5th, bad mistake 7 out and unseated rider
mid-division, fell 1st
pushed along at stages from early, soon towards rear, reminder after 4th, 13th at 5th, slow 7th, behind 6 out, pulled up before 5 out
soon prominent, 3rd at 5th, slight mistake 6th, on terms 3 out, soon headed and one pace
mid-division early, 7th at 5th, keen and soon closed up to be prominent, effort on outer into straight, no extra when slight mistake 2 out
waited with, soon in rear, impeded 7 out and progress, kept on same pace without threatening straight
slightly impeded 1st and slight mistake, prominent, 5th at 5th, slight mistake 6 out and pushed along briefly, one pace under pressure straight
waited with, slight mistake 1st, mistake 2nd, 14th at 5th, impeded 7 out, slight mistake 6 out, no extra when jumped left 3 out
tracked leaders, 4th at 5th, soon closed up to be prominent, on terms approaching 7 out where led, joined 5 out, headed 3 out, no impression and not much room briefly approaching 2 out where not fluent and weakened
mid-division early, 8th at 5th, mistake 7 out, closed up travelling smoothly straight, led between last 2, asserted approaching last where not fluent, pushed out and stayed on well run-in
waited with, 11th at 5th, not fluent 5 out, pushed along from 4 out, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out
waited with, 15th at 5th, headway 4 out, tight for room approaching 2 out where on terms, soon headed and one pace
mid-division early, 9th at 5th, headway and effort straight, slight mistake 2 out, kept on same pace from before last
soon chased leaders, 6th at 5th, a little slow 7th and some slight mistakes after, lost position and pushed along from 4 out, soon no impression, pulled up before last
A fiercely-competitive handicap with few ruled out. Willie Mullins usually has several in these races but relies on Saturnas. A Grade 1 winning hurdler, he hasn't been seen since just failing to catch Snow Falcon in the 2018 Kerry National but the lack of a run is unlikely to be a problem. Best Behavior also returns after a break having fallen when on a hat-trick in a lucrative event at Naas in February but CHATHAM STREET LAD arrives in top form having won very easily at Cork. He wasn't at his best on his previous start behind Pakens Rock at Galway. The winner found Grade 2 company beyond him at Punchestown but has a chance in this grade and Articulum would be a threat to all if getting round while the likes of Crossed My Mind and Bois De Clamart are well enough weighted to make their presence felt.
Articulum (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Disputed lead early, prominent, lost position approaching straight but remained in touch, effort from 2 out, challenged and every chance run-in, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Saturnas (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear early, mid-division halfway, progress into 8th 5 out, 4th 3 out, ridden into 2nd entering straight, under pressure before last, kept on well run-in, pressed winner close home, just held, 2nd of 18, nk behind Snow Falcon (11-5) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.
Pakens Rock (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, pecked 2nd, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, no threat in straight, 6th of 7, 29 1/4l behind Felix Desjy (11-6) at Punchestown 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Elwood (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Waited with, 18th at 8th, slight mistake 10th, one pace from before straight, 10th of 22, dist behind The Jam Man (10-6) at Navan 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Best Behavior (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division early, 8th at 4th, fell 8th, at Naas 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Gun Digger (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Waited with, 17th at 8th, no extra from 4 out and pulled up before 3 out, at Navan 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Kitten Rock (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, 3rd after 4th, slow jump 7 out, pushed along after 4 out, effort straight, soon one pace, 5th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Chatham Street Lad (11-0) at Cork 2m 1f hcp hvy in Nov.
Massey's Wood 12-1 (11-5) Soon prominent and keen, on terms from 9th, led from 5 out, asserted from before last, stayed on well, won at Down Royal 3m hcp Yielding in Oct beating Askann (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Powersbomb (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Towards rear, 15th from halfway, mistake 5 out, pushed along in 9th from 3 out where not fluent, no impression in 8th from next, 8th of 16, dist behind Chavi Artist (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Nov.
Dis Donc (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, slight mistake 5th, headway into 3rd 3 out, improved to dispute lead travelling well entering straight, ridden and narrowly headed after 2 out, strongly pressed winner after last, no extra inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Farmix (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hvy in Nov.
Bois De Clamart (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Mid-division, 7th from halfway, took closer order in 4th from 5 out, mistake and unseated rider next, at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Nov.
Treacysenniscorthy (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake 6 out, led briefly 4 out where slight mistake, pushed along after 2 out and challenged when slight mistake last, no extra run-in, 4th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Minella Times (11-10) at Listowel 2m 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Crossed My Mind (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Chased leader, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd approaching 3 out, headway to lead after 2 out, travelled well before last where jumped left, pushed out and drew clear run-in, won at Thurles 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Nov beating Jack Dillinger (11-11) by 4l, 13 ran.
Nobody Home (IRE) 17-2 (10-10) Prominent and soon disputed lead, headed and dropped to 2nd from 6th, briefly disputed lead again 4 out, soon headed and pushed along in 3rd before 2 out where not fluent and ridden, no extra in 4th from last and kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 16, 12 1/2l behind Chavi Artist (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Nov.
Benefit Run (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, a little keen, 7th halfway, slightly hampered 7th, progress to 3rd 3 out, 2nd and pushed along to challenge when edged left after 2 out, a length down in 2nd when went left and ran out last, at Down Royal 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Fairly Legal (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division and 6th from halfway, took closer order in 5th from 4 out and pushed along before 2 out, ridden before last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Chavi Artist (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Nov.
Touch Of Oscar (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Led and disputed, slight mistakes 1st and 2nd, mistake 9th, headed from 5 out, weakened from before 2 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Massey's Wood (11-5) at Down Royal 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 85-40fav (11-0) Slight mistake 1st, slightly impeded 2nd, soon mid-division, 6th after 4th, slight mistake 5 out, closed approaching straight, slight mistake 3 out, led between last 2, asserted and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Cork 2m 1f hcp hvy in Nov beating Off You Go (11-10) by 5l, 11 ran.
