led and took keen hold, bad mistake at 2nd, bad mistake 7th and joined, led again and jumped right 3 out, soon headed, dropped to moderate 5th next, no impression and left moderate 4th at last
held up in last, went 5th at 6th, went 3rd and ridden 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, moderate 3rd when fell at last
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in 4th before 2 out, no impression in 4th when left 3rd at last, no extra
held up in 5th, dropped to last at 6th, no impression from 3 out and eased
tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead at 7th, headed 3 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on well run-in to press winner to line
tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold, improved to lead travelling well after 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and clear entering straight, ridden run-in reduced advantage inside final furlong, kept on under pressure close home
Monatomic finally got off the mark at Down Royal last month but would need more to double his tally here. Dr Mikey won at Gowran in November but was well beaten when falling in a Grade 3 at Navan the following month and is the senior runner in this. IMPACT FACTOR (NAP) has taken a while to get to grips with fences but he came up against a smart novice at Gowran last month and finished ahead of a subsequent winner - any improvement on that should make him tough to beat. Riders Onthe Storm had no chance in a Grade 1 at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day but that was only his second start over fences so he is preferred to St Stephens Green.
Dr Mikey (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led, slight mistake 3rd and headed, slight mistake next, dropped to last at 5th, fell 6th, at Navan 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Dec.
Monatomic (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd 5 out, pressed leader entering straight, led 2 out, pressed last and ridden, joined run-in, kept on well under pressure to assert close home, won at Down Royal 2m Yielding in Jan beating Peacocks Secret (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
St Stephens Green (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, ridden in 4th after 4 out, moderate 4th 2 out, no impression, 5th of 9, 25 3/4l behind Ornua (11-5) at Roscommon 2m (1) gd in Oct.
Celtic Rising (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Tracked leaders, a little slow at 2nd, 3rd when fell 7th, at Limerick 2m 2f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Impact Factor (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, pushed along early straight and 2nd 2 out, ridden approaching last and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 17, 4l behind Cilaos Emery (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m sft in Jan.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Towards rear early, improved to chase leaders in 3rd from 6th and went 2nd after 8th, dropped to 3rd before 2 out and soon no extra, kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 7, 21 1/2l behind Hardline (11-10) at Limerick 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
