chased leader, 3rd from before 4th, hampered and dropped to rear at 5th, pushed along briefly entering straight, travelled well to challenge before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out and soon ridden, no impression on leader from last, kept on same pace
chased leader, 2nd before 4th, fell 5th
held up, ran freely early, left 2nd at 5th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no impression next, weakened before last
made all, ridden 3 out, pressed before 2 out, kept on well under pressure from before last
Augustin only looked moderate in bumpers but made a very encouraging debut over hurdles at Naas when beating a subsequent winner. Stamina won him the day there so the extra three furlongs is very much in his favour here. BALTAZAR D'ALLIER won a point-to-point before an impressive debut over hurdles here then went to Newbury for the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle. He couldn't quite handle Messire Des Obeaux that day but the winner was placed at Cheltenham on Wednesday so the form looks strong enough for this. Clara Sorrento was suited by the very testing ground when scoring at Clonmel but was a long way behind Monbeg Notorious in a Tipperary bumper in October. The latter appeared to falter over three miles last time and should do better over this trip.
Augustin (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Mistake 1st, tracked leaders, 6th early, improved to get on terms last, soon led and stayed on best run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn Yielding - Soft in Jan beating Miss Mardan (11-5) by 3l, 21 ran.
Baltazar D'allier (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up off the pace disputing 5th, not fluent 4th, headway on inside tracking leaders after 3 out, 3rd 2 out, soon switched right, driven between last two, 2nd approaching the last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Messire Des Obeaux (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f (1) gs in Dec.
Clara Sorrento (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to challenge entering straight, led before 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on well, comfortably, won at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn hvy in Mar beating Without Limites (11-12) by 4l, 12 ran.
Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 8-13fav (11-0) Held up 3rd, niggled along after 9th, ridden after 4 out, headway to 2nd 3 out, no impression on leader before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Rathnure Rebel (11-0) at Cork 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
