tracked leaders, close 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened from next
always in rear, lost touch from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened quickly 3 out, soon behind
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden along and dropped to 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace straight
tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 4th 2 out, went moderate 3rd entering straight, no extra before last
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, mistake 5th and slow jump next, 6th 3 out, soon ridden along, progress on outer entering straight, went 2nd before last, kept on under pressure from last
tracked leaders on outer and keen early, close 4th travelling well 3 out, improved to lead after next, ridden clear before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in
led, clear halfway, reduced advantage 3 out, ridden and headed after next, weakened straight
in rear, some progress to chased leaders 3 out, no impression from next
Marito races over hurdles for the first time since last year's Festival but has a touch of class and was in good form over fences prior to falling in the Jewson at Cheltenham when chasing the leaders. If that hasn't affected his confidence, he won't be far away. Mackeys Forge is another who's been chasing and he finished ahead of Knockgraffon King at Fairyhouse in December over the larger obstacles. Clar Na Mionn wasn't disgraced in a Cork handicap after winning at that track earlier while Rye Martini has claims dropping back in trip but there should be more to come from MALT MASTER. Another who's been chasing, he was second in a novice hurdle here last year and can go one better this time.
Clar Na Mionn (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, still travelling well straight, led 3 out, headed before next, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Byerley Babe (11-0) at Cork 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 in Mar.
Frawley (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 9th halfway, headway in 5th entering straight, 3rd 3 out, close up when bad mistake 2 out, ridden into 2nd last, kept on to lead run-in, asserted close home, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl gd in Sep '11 beating Flycorn (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 21 ran.
Knockgraffon King (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, moderate 5th 4 out, soon ridden, no impression in poor 9th when mistake 3 out and soon pulled up, in a race won by Panther Claw (11-6) at Navan 3m nov chs hvy in Mar, 16 ran.
Mackeys Forge (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd 4 out, ridden from next, kept on same pace in 2nd from 2 out, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Mart Lane (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chase sft.
Mad Brian (IRE) 5-1fav (10-10) Mid-division on outer, ridden 4 out, weakened, 21st of 22, 47l behind Captain Arceus (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m ext hcp hdl.
Malt Master (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Tended to jump left, took keen hold and help up in 3rd, went left and blundered badly 1st, went 2nd at 8th, went left 10th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 3, 5l behind Poungach (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs (3) gs in Mar.
Marito (GER) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway to track leading trio after 3 out, close up in 4th and staying on when fell next, in a race won by Benefficient (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Mar, 13 ran.
Rye Martini (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led, headed and ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 20, 31l behind Call Rog (10-13) at Fairyhouse 3m nov hcp hdl sft in Mar.
You Must Know Me (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, mistake 5 out and no extra from 3 out, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch, 28 ran.
Count Brando (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along in 8th after 4 out, left moderate 5th and hampered 3 out, no extra in moderate 7th when clipped heels and fell entering straight, in a race won by Pyrus Gold Wind (11-4) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl gd, 17 ran.
Bell Weir 9-10fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 4th, pushed along entering straight, led 2 out, kept on well from before last, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn hdl gd beating Kestrel (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
