Sutton Manor was behind Fitzhenry and Last Encounter at Naas but meets both on better terms and is entitled to get a lot closer. Though Jack Kennedy rides Woods Well, he looks the pick of Gordon Elliott’s pair. But this could be yet another for the Mullins/Townsend combination as AUGUSTIN overcame mistakes and trouble in-running to land the odds at Clonmel after chasing home Monbeg Notorious at Punchestown and can only improve. Oscar Lantern has claims from near the foot of the weights and Glencairn View wasn’t disgraced at Gowran after winning at Punchestown and can’t be ignored.
Sutton Manor (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 5th when fell 9th, at Gowran Park 2m 7f hcp hvy in Mar.
Woods Well (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division on outer, ridden and no extra after 4 out, weakened, pulled up before last, at Punchestown 3m 5f hcp hvy in Feb.
Augustin (FR) 1-2fav (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, dropped to 3rd 2 out, shaken up briefly last, ridden entering straight, stayed on to dispute 1 1/2f out, led inside final furlong and kept on well closing stages, won at Clonmel 2m 7f hvy in Feb beating Fire In His Eyes (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Fitzhenry (IRE) 11-4fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, closer in 3rd at 6th, improved to dispute lead 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure run-in, improved to lead close home, all out, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp sft in Feb beating Last Encounter (10-5) by nk, 8 ran.
Without Limites (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, fell 13th, at Punchestown 3m 5f hcp hvy in Feb.
Last Encounter (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway entering straight, went 3rd on inner 2 out, soon ridden, disputed lead approaching last, stayed on well run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Fitzhenry (10-10) at Naas 2m 4f hcp sft in Feb.
Glencairn View (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) In rear on outer, good headway 5 out, went 3rd next, ridden in 5th 3 out, 4th 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd from last, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Pairofbrowneyes (11-4) at Gowran Park 2m 7f hcp hvy in Mar.
Alto Esqua (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, under pressure 4 out, soon no impression, never a factor, 8th of 11, dist behind Crosshue Boy (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m 1f Yielding in Mar.
Oscar Lantern (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden in 5th after 3 out, 5th when left 4th at last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Dinnie's Vinnie (10-8) at Naas 3m hcp sft in Feb.
Georges Conn (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, slight mistake 2nd, mistakes from halfway, bad mistake 7th, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 10, dist behind Artic Pearl (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 5f Yielding in Mar.
