mid-division, progress in 6th entering straight, ridden to challenge after 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last, stayed on to dispute last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace in 2nd
rear of mid-division, progress into 6th 5 out, close up next, disputed before 2 out, led after 2 out, joined again last, ridden and kept on best run-in
always towards rear, slight mistake 5th, mistakes 6 out and 5 out, soon no extra and weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, lost place before 3 out where hampered, ridden in 7th entering straight, stayed on and slightly hampered 2 out, 3rd before last, no impression run-in and kept on same pace
mid-division, jumped left 2nd, mistake 9th, mistake 4 out and soon no impression, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
disputed early, chased leader from 2nd, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression after 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure from before last
mid-division, ridden after 5 out, stayed on and closer 2 out, under pressure in 5th before last where ran out
chased leader, 2nd halfway, challenged and slight mistake 4 out, left disputing next, soon headed and ridden, no extra 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd and slight mistake 11th, led 5 out, strongly pressed next, fell 3 out
held up towards rear, hampered and bad mistake 2nd, soon rear, ridden into 8th entering straight, no impression 2 out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, slight mistake 7th, progress into mid-division from 10th, 7th and slight mistake 11th, closer and slight mistake 3 out, disputed before 2 out where pecked badly, soon ridden and no extra before last where mistake
led, headed 5 out, no extra before 3 out, weakened entering straight
chased leaders, slight mistake 1st and mistake 3rd, 6th halfway, closer in 4th 5 out, challenged when slight mistake and jumped left 4 out, left disputing 3 out, soon led, ridden and disputed 2 out, headed after 2 out, 4th before last, kept on one pace
Art Of Payroll chased home A Toi Phil in a beginners' event at Down Royal though two of the six runners fell. After scoring over the minimum at Naas, Rogue Trader started favourite for a lucrative handicap over 2m4f here in April but made too many mistakes. Sonny B looked in need of his comeback at Roscommon and the heavy ground caught him out though he ran well until blowing up and is well treated compared to his hurdles form. Topper Thornton couldn't quite get past Tiger Sam at Down Royal but the winner was completing a double initiated on this track. Winning point-to-pointer and bumper Call It Magic was having only his second start over fences when storming to an impressive victory in a beginners' event at Wexford and though taking a step-up in class must be on the shortlist. Kansas City Chief had been threatening to win for a while before beating So Young at Thurles but the vote in a wide-open handicap goes to OSCAR KNIGHT, who let supporters down on a couple of occasions last season. However, it was different matter at Galway last month when he won with the minimum of fuss and there should be more to come from him. Vinnie Luck easily landed the odds on his chasing debut at Sligo and bumped into a useful rival when just behind New Kid In Town at Cork.
Art Of Payroll (GER) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along and progress to challenge next, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind A Toi Phil (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f gd in Nov.
Rogue Trader (IRE) 9-2fav (10-0) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 6th, progress into 9th 3 out, ridden into close 5th 2 out, no impression in 4th before last where mistake, kept on one pace run-in, 5th of 17, 13l behind Irish Cavalier (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Kilgefin Star (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, never a factor, no impression approaching 2 out, 15th of 19, 32 1/2l behind Scoir Mear (10-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Sonny B (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up, some slight mistakes, last after 10th, headway into 3rd before straight, chased winner 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 22l behind He Rock's (10-11) at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp hvy in Oct.
Topper Thornton (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, 7th halfway, progress travelling well to go 2nd last, pushed along to lead briefly 100 yards out, ridden and no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Tiger Sam (9-10) at Down Royal 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Call It Magic (IRE) 4-7fav (11-12) Tracked leader, progress to lead 4th, ridden to assert after 2 out and 8 lengths clear last, stayed on well, won at Wexford 2m 4f gd in Oct beating Black Franks Angel (11-5) by 12l, 10 ran.
Kansas City Chief (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Soon disputed lead, headed after 4th, tracked leader, 3rd before 9th, pushed along approaching 4 out, slight mistake 2 out, no impression when left disputing at last where bad mistake, soon led and kept on, won at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding in Mar beating So Young (11-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
On The Shannon (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, closer 4 out, ridden to dispute 2nd entering straight, 2nd 2 out, no impression before last where 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 6 1/4l behind Pleasant Company (11-1) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Vinnie Luck (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Prominent, soon 2nd, on terms 3 out, not go with winner from next, kept on without threatening run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind New Kid In Town (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Cecil Corbett 9-2fav (11-10) Held up in rear, hampered 10th, hit 12th, hampered 4 out, headway next, no impression, weakened 2 out, 6th of 17, 30 1/4l behind Troika Steppes (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Oscar Knight (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Slightly impeded 1st, in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon prominent and travelling smoothly, pushed out to lead and assert closing stages, won at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct beating Show And Go (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Orpheus Valley (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Led, 3 lengths clear approaching 2 out, ridden and headed after last, no impression in 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Hash Brown (10-11) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Eiri Na Casca (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden and no impression before 3 out, moderate 8th 2 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 12, 17 1/2l behind Shouband (10-12) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
