tracked leader, led narrowly before 1st, headed before 7th, took closer order 4 out, led narrowly after 3 out, headed after 2 out, lost place before last, kept on run-in to moderate 3rd close home
towards rear, not fluent at 3rd, 9th after 5th, not fluent 4 out, good headway on inner to close before 2 out, lost place and weakened before last
rear of mid-division, 10th after 5th, no impression and weakened before last
led, headed before 1st, lost place before 2nd, 8th after 5th, 7th after 8th, dropped to rear after 4 out, eased approaching straight, pulled up before last
in touch, progress before 2nd, 2nd after 5th, 3rd after 6th, 4th after 4 out, lost place and weakened quickly approaching straight
tracked leader, 5th after 5th, 6th after 8th, good headway to close approaching straight, led entering straight, driven out run-in
rear of mid-division, slow jump at 1st and lost place, progress before 2nd, 6th after 5th, improved to 4th after 8th, no impression in 5th before last where left 4th and hampered, one paced
tracked leader, progress 4 out, closed after 3 out, led after 2 out, headed entering straight, dropped to 4th before last, left 3rd and badly hampered run-in, dropped to moderate 4th close home
in rear, 12th after 5th, effort and progress before last, hampered run-in, no extra
rear of mid-division, headway after 2nd, 3rd after 5th, closed after 6th, led before 7th, asserted after 8th, clear at 9th, reduced lead 4 out, headed and weakened quickly after 3 out
mid-division, 7th after 5th, lost place after 8th, progress after 4 out, bumped rival entering straight, soon switched right, ridden and stayed on to 3rd before last where fell
towards rear, 11th after 5th, headway after 2 out, came wide entering straight and bumped, closed before last, where not fluent, ridden and kept on run-in, held
DIRECT IMAGE failed to win on her first nine starts under Rules but has now landed four in a row - two over hurdles and two over fences. Returned to action after a six-month break this month, she was untroubled to land a large-field handicap hurdle and is now 25lb higher than when scoring over timber in September. Her spree will come to an end at some stage but she's hard to oppose. Both Sweet Sting and Diggin Deep displayed major improvement last time and the question is whether or not they can maintain or improve their level here. Willie Mullins runs Belle Metal, who will find this easier than her last two challenging assignments and should go well.
Whatucallher (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, 4th halfway, pushed along early straight and dropped to 7th after 2 out, no extra, 9th of 12, 12 1/4l behind Nell's Well (11-8) at Cork 3m hcp gd in Mar.
Belle Metal (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Prominent early, soon mid-division, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace in straight, 11th of 24, 19 1/4l behind Camprond (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Humble Glory (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division on outer, ridden 4 out, soon no impression, 12th of 24, 21 1/4l behind Life In The Park (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Forgetthesurprise (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and no extra after 3 out, 11th of 24, dist behind Digby (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Bentham (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 8th halfway, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon no impression, no extra after 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 17, dist behind Metersandmasks (11-4) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Direct Image (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders on outer, 2nd halfway, headway travelling well to lead approaching straight, asserted after 2 out, kept on well, easily, won at Tipperary 3m hcp Good - Yielding in May beating Lucailem (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 20 ran.
Fortune Street (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Always behind and pushed along from early, slow at 3rd, not fluent 5th and soon detached, no extra from halfway, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Limerick 2m 5f hcp gd in Apr.
Sweet Sting (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, travelled well in 2nd entering straight, ridden to lead before last, soon asserted, untidy last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Tipperary 3m hcp gd in May beating Yulong Voice (11-10) by 10l, 14 ran.
Willaston (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Towards rear, not fluent 1st, slight mistake 6th, ridden into 7th after 3 out, no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 18 1/2l behind Fame And Joy (11-5) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp gd in May.
Diggin Deep (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, improved to lead when jumped left and rider lost an iron at 6th, saddle briefly slipped sideways but recovered by 7th, clear 11th, reduced lead 3 out, soon ridden, drifted right run-in, stayed on well, won at Down Royal 3m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in May beating Mister Bells (11-3) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Golas Tiep (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd from 7th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 4th and no impression next, left moderate 2nd at last, no impression on easy winner, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Chinx Of Light (11-10) at Down Royal 3m Good - Yielding in May.
Loudest Whisper (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden towards outer 2f out, stayed on into 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 18, 6 3/4l behind Unanswered (9-1) at Gowran Park 1m 6f hcp gd in May.
