raced towards outer, soon chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, soon raced in 4th, slight mistake 2 out, slight mistake last and kept on without matching front pair
waited with in rear, headway on inner from 10th, chased leaders and no impression approaching last, one pace
waited with, a little keen, 7th after 6th, slight mistake 3 out, not match leaders 2 out until headway before last where slight mistake, stayed on well run-in to lead inside final 150yds
a little keen, prominent, not fluent 6th and dropped to 5th, no impression 2 out, one pace
led, slight mistake 3 out, soon joined, headed from 2 out, soon no extra
soon tracked leaders, 3rd after 6th, pushed along after 3 out and soon effort, kept on without matching principals run-in
waited with, 6th after 6th, some headway straight, no impression 2 out
raced towards outer, not fluent 2nd, soon prominent, 2nd after 6th, slight mistake 8th, on terms from 3 out, led from 2 out, jumped slightly right last, headed and one pace inside final 150yds
Francin had twice been beaten over 2m4f before dropping back to 2m and scoring here. His stable companion Quartz Du Rheu has been tackling strong company and wasn't beaten far behind the smart Fury Road in a Limerick Grade 2. PENCILFULLOFLEAD was having only his second start over timber when defying mistakes to win easily over this trip at Punchestown and he gets the vote in a competitive event. Fully Charged didn't last out 3m in a Grade 3 at the latter track and this looks more his trip but Sixshooter hasn't made the expected progress after his maiden success on good ground in October. Opposites Attract is taking on much stronger company though is definitely on the upgrade.
Opposites Attract (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 4 out, ridden in 8th before 3 out, stayed on into 3rd before 2 out, 2nd before last, challenged run-in, disputed last strides and just prevailed at line, won at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Jan beating Momus (11-5) by ns, 11 ran.
Quartz Du Rheu (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Towards rear, no impression from 3 out, kept on without threatening, never a factor, 15th of 28, 34 1/2l behind Treacysenniscorthy (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Feb.
Francin (FR) 4-7fav (11-12) Chased leaders, closed up travelling smoothly straight, led between last 2, quickly asserted, not fluent last, ridden out and stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Feb beating The Very Man (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 20 ran.
Fully Charged 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 5 out, 2nd again 3 out, ridden from next, dropped to moderate 3rd entering straight, soon no impression, moderate 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 15l behind Run Wild Fred (11-2) at Punchestown 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Mr Hendricks (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, ridden 3 out, some modest progress in moderate 7th when clipped heels on landing and fell 2 out, at Punchestown 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 4-6fav (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent at 6th, slight mistake next, headway into 3rd at 8th, improved to dispute lead before 3 out, pushed along and led entering straight, ridden before last, slow jump and mistake at last, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Punchestown 2m 6f mdn hvy in Feb beating Et Dite (11-5) by 12l, 13 ran.
Festival D'ex (FR) 7-4 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along after 3 out and left 4th next, soon no impression and no extra when not fluent last, 4th of 6, 26 3/4l behind Monkfish (11-5) at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding in Jan.
Sixshooter (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Raced in 3rd, jumped slightly left 1st, pushed along approaching straight, no impression after 3 out, soon dropped to last and no extra, last of 4, 18 3/4l behind Latest Exhibition (11-2) at Navan 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
