tracked leaders, slight mistake 3 out, improved to dispute lead next, ridden and headed entering straight, 3rd before last, kept on one pace run-in
in rear, headway into 4th 2 out, soon ridden, no impression from before last
mid-division on inner, rear of mid-division at halfway, ridden in 8th after 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead 2 out, ridden to lead entering straight, headed approaching last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in
towards rear, 7th 2 out, soon ridden, 5th at last, kept on without threatening
towards rear, closer in 6th 2 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened
rear of mid-division, pushed along 3 out, ridden and no impression next
tracked leaders, 5th 2 out, 2nd entering straight, pushed along to lead approaching last, stayed on well inside final furlong, comfortably
led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened
Papal Lodge won here and at Down Royal in March and found 2m6f stretching his stamina at Navan last month. Whatsnotoknow has been mixing it between hurdles and fences since a maiden hurdle victory at Thurles last year but is still a couple of pounds high though he had Marajman behind when fourth at Gowran last time. However, runner-up that day was RICH BELIEF, who only has a 2lb rise to contend with and can go one better. Broomfields Jeremy was in tremendous form last winter though appears to need testing conditions but Merry Poppins has run well here in the past and bounced back to form at Ballinrobe.
Marajman (FR) 17-2 (11-10) Prominent, tracked leaders after 1st, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out, pushed along to challenge entering straight, mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra from last, kept on one pace, 7th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Good Time Jonny (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Broomfields Jeremy (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Waited with towards rear, fell 6th, at Thurles 2m 4f hvy in Feb.
Papal Lodge (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Towards rear, rear after 1st, reminder after 2nd, 6th after 6th, not fluent at 7th, 5th after 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 28 3/4l behind Tullybeg (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f gd in Sep.
Whatsnotoknow (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Waited with in mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression in 6th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th close home, 4th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Good Time Jonny (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
It Could Be You (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, 9th halfway, in touch in 7th when bad mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 11, dist behind Good Time Jonny (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Rich Belief 18-1 (10-8) Held up in touch in mid-division, 6th halfway, headway after 3 out and went 3rd next, ridden in 2nd and no impression before last, edged right under pressure run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Good Time Jonny (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Hurricane Darwin (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Waited with, soon in rear, took closer order approaching straight, soon one pace, 8th of 13, 31l behind Fest Deiz (11-1) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp sft in May.
Merry Poppins (GER) 9-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, pushed along briefly 3rd, pushed along when mistake 2 out, soon ridden in moderate 8th, no impression in 6th at last, 4th early run-in, kept on one pace under pressure, went 3rd final 50 yards, 3rd of 12, 8 3/4l behind Whatucallher (11-5) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Aldo The Apache (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 8th after 4 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace, 11th of 16, 24l behind Oskar High (10-0) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Nazine (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) Led, headed after 5th, ridden and no impression in 5th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Brides Hill (10-7) at Tipperary 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Grange Walk (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Towards rear, mistake 4th, slow 6th and detached in rear, soon pulled up, at Listowel 2m 1f Good - Yielding in Sep.
