rear, slight mistake at 1st, 6th before 6th, no impression in 5th 2 out, weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, not fluent at 4th, 2nd before 6th, 3rd 4 out, lost place and dropped to rear before 2 out, weakened quickly after 2 out, tailed off
in touch, 4th before 6th, improved to 3rd 2 out, stayed on to lead narrowly before last, driven out run-in
in touch, tracked leader before 3rd, 3rd before 6th, improved to 2nd 4 out, dropped to 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in
towards rear, 5th before 6th, 4th 2 out, soon no impression on principals, weakened before last
led, attempted to assert after 2 out, headed before last, kept on run-in, no extra closing stages
Gordon Elliott has won this seven times since 2011 and has set his stall out to score again with four entries. Jack Kennedy was on board when winning point-to-pointer CROKE PARK jumped his rivals silly on heavy ground at Clonmel and takes the ride again. He also rode Search For Glory to an easy victory at Galway last month and probably had difficulty choosing between the pair. Pinyon Jay scored over the trip at Downpatrick under Kennedy then found three miles beyond him the next twice. Mel Monroe was very impressive at Downpatrick then ran a cracking race at Cheltenham so isn't out of this with her allowance. Ballinrobe winner Ballystone looks best of the remaining pair.
Starman (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 12l behind Absolute Notions (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hvy in Nov.
Ballystone (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Led and disputed, led last, ridden entering straight, kept on well closing stages, won at Ballinrobe 2m mdn gd in May beating Sherodan (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Croke Park (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Led, jumped left 3rd, joined briefly 3 out, asserted before next and clear approaching last, kept on well run-in, easily, won at Clonmel 2m 1f mdn hvy in Oct beating Chiefs Kingdom (11-12) by 11l, 10 ran.
Search For Glory (IRE) 1-9fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, pushed along and led narrowly after 2 out, not fluent last, asserted early run-in and kept on well, won at Galway 2m 5f mdn hvy in Oct beating Alvarez Eclipse (11-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Pinyon Jay (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to challenge 3 out, 3rd when slight mistake next, no impression before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Solitary Man (11-0) at Cork 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Mel Monroe (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up in midfield, not fluent 7th, not fluent 3 out, headway on outer before last where every chance, stayed into 2nd near finish but no match for easy winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Encanto Bruno (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Oct.
