disputed lead, slight mistake and headed 4 out, progress to lead after next, not fluent last and headed briefly early run-in, ridden and kept on well close home
disputed lead, headed after 3 out, led briefly early run-in, ridden and no extra closing stages
held up tracking leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd and no impression approaching last, no extra in 4th run-in
held up tracking leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression in 4th approaching last, under pressure and kept on well run-in to go 2nd close home
prominent and disputed lead, headed after 3 out and dropped to rear when mistake next, no extra
FOXROCK can take this despite having to concede weight to some useful rivals thanks to his Grade 2 victory at Naas where he comfortably saw off the challenge of Sizing Gold. Civena will be receiving 10lb but doesn't look good enough despite her surprise victory at Fairyhouse as she was beaten a long way by My Murphy there earlier. The latter was taking on a bit more than he could handle in a Leopardstown Grade 1 last time and this is about as high as he would want to go. Cootamundra did very well to land a lucrative course and distance handicap in November but went up 10lb and couldn't handle the extra in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran later. Clar Na Mionn is invariably thereabouts at a slightly lower level but rarely wins and was behind the selection last time.
Foxrock (IRE) 11-8fav (11-5) Chased leader, a little slow 5th, pushed along briefly 10th, improved to be on terms before straight, gained narrow lead between last 2, stayed on well to assert run-in, won at Naas 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Sizing Gold (11-5) by 7l, 5 ran.
Clar Na Mionn (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Soon raced in moderate 4th, closer order 5 out, no impression in moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Foxrock (11-5) at Naas 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Cootamundra (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Soon mid-division, mistake 5th, headway into 8th 4 out, closer in 6th entering straight, ridden 3 out, under pressure in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 18, 14l behind On His Own (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs in Jan.
My Murphy (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, disputed from 8 out, mistake 5 out, ridden before 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra and kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 7, 16l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) in Dec.
Civena (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Prominent and tracked leader, 2nd halfway, led 3 out, challenged and headed after next, rallied under pressure last and rider lost whip early run-in, soon led and kept on well,, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chase in Jan beating Talbot Road (11-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
