mid-division, headway into 6th 2 out, challenged on inner in straight, close 3rd last, no impression run-in
rear of mid-division, headway into 5th after 4 out, led before 2 out, soon strongly pressed and headed approaching last where short of room, no extra in 4th run-in
towards rear, 13th approaching 3 out, moderate 8th before last, kept on well under pressure run-in
led, headed briefly 6th, strongly pressed and headed before 2 out, soon no extra and weakened
always behind
never a factor
tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd after 4 out, ridden and no extra in 5th before last
chased leaders, 6th halfway, 4th 2 out, no extra approaching last
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd after 4 out, no extra from 2 out
held up towards rear, good headway into 5th 2 out, challenged travelling best in straight, led before last where jumped right, soon ridden to assert, reduced advantage closing stages
always towards rear, never a factor
prominent, led breifly 6th, no extra after 4 out, weakened
mid-division, in touch when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, no extra after 3 out, eased when beaten in straight
tracked leaders, 8th halfway, no extra from 3 out, eased when beaten in straight
mid-division, 8th 2 out, no extra from early straight
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and 2nd at last, kept on well under pressure run-in, not reach winner
rear of mid-division, never a factor
The former France-trained Sergent Guib's made a reasonable start for new connections over 2m4f here last month and, as that was his first run for a very long time, should have benefited from the outing. Stablemate Our Monty returned from an even longer break at Fairyhouse earlier this month and was a very progressive performer a couple of years ago. Raz De Maree was in excellent form around this time a year ago and though returning from a long absence has some very strong form in his favour. He beat Cootamundra by 2l at Navan a year ago and though the runner-up has fitness on his side the places may be confirmed. Blackwell Synergy is a progressive type who was having only his fifth start when scoring over this trip at Clonmel and a 7lb rise doesn't look excessive. REALLY UNIQUE is tackling this trip for the first time over hurdles but looked like a slog through the mud was needed when scoring over 2m6f at Limerick and should get the right conditions to take this.
Sergent Guib's (FR) 11-8fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden along 2 out and dropped to 3rd entering straight, no impression on winner from before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Ipsos Du Berlais (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl in Jan.
Pineau De Re (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Chased leaders in main group, 7th halfway, headway into close 3rd 3 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, no extra before last, kept on same pace, 5th of 17, 10l behind Powerstation (11-2) at Navan 2m 7f hcp hdl in Dec.
Catch Me (GER) 25-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, some headway after 3 out, kept on one pace in straight, 7th of 25, 30l behind Jetson (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Faltering Fullback 12-1 (10-8) Slow jump 3rd, soon mid-division, chased leaders before straight, no impression when bad mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Seabass (10-6) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 hvy in Dec, 16 ran.
Raz De Maree (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 8th halfway, 5th 5 out, 3rd before 3 out, ridden and no impression in 7th entering straight, kept on one pace under pressure, 5th of 16, 15l behind Askanna (11-1) at Punchestown 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in May.
The Hurl (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Raced last of the 4, pushed along 3 out, soon struggling and no extra, last of 4, 45l behind Mikael D'Haguenet (11-3) at Naas 2m 3f Grade 3 Hurdle (5yo+) (1) in Jan.
Tillahow (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, no threat in straight, 12th of 25, 43l behind Jetson (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Beckett Rock (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led before straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 8l behind Prince Of Forwards (10-6) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Jan.
Blackwell Synergy (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, closer in 4th into straight, challenged in 2nd 2 out, led and stayed on best run-in, snugly, won at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Oct beating Datokepe (11-9) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Cootamundra (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression winner entering straight, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 15l behind That'll Do Me (10-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Beroni (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Prominent racing keenly, mistake 5th, 5th halfway, 4th 2 out, soon no extra, eased when beaten in straight, tailed off, 17th of 21, well behind Dorset Square (9-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 gd in Apr '10.
Turner Brown (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, went 4th 3 out, ridden after next, headway to lead at last, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Feb '11 beating Andrea's Answer (9-11) by 1 1/4l, 21 ran.
Our Monty (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Settled in mid-division on inner, 6th entering straight, kept on one pace to go moderate 4th from before last, 4th of 9, 28l behind Dooney Rock (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl in Jan.
Viaduct Joey (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Led, headed 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, soon no extra, 6th of 10, 28l behind That'll Do Me (10-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Sword Fish (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, 5th entering straight, 4th at last, kept on same pace run-in without troubling winner, 2nd of 25, 3 1/2l behind Jetson (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Schinkel (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway on outer after halfway to go 8th approaching 3 out, no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 18, 15l behind Paco Jack (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-116 in Jan.
Really Unique (IRE) 9-10fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, clear of remainder with winner approaching 2 out where joined, soon narrowly headed, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Vast Consumption (11-5) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hdl 80-102 hvy in Jan.
Duroob 33-1 (10-3) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, kept on one pace without threatening, 9th of 20, 37l behind Ros Brin (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Jan.
Paco Jack (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up on inner, good headway into 4th 2 out, led before last and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-116 in Jan beating De Dodger (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
