disputed, led before 3rd, slight mistakes 5th, 7th and 8th, ridden and pressed when slight mistake 2 out, headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, pressed for 2nd close home
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, closer in 4th 5 out, 3rd after 4 out, close up and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, under pressure in 4th next, soon no extra, slight mistake last
disputed early, chased leader from before 3rd, slight mistake 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, led before last, kept on well run-in
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, dropped to 5th 5 out, rear and slight mistake 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra entering straight
held up towards rear, ridden in 5th and no impression before straight, no extra after 3 out, kept on one pace
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd 5 out, ridden in 4th 3 out, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from last, held for 2nd close home
held up towards rear, ridden in 6th and no impression before straight, slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace
Winning bumper ROBIN DES FORET is unbeaten over hurdles, scoring over the minimum at Tipperary before making all over three miles at KiIlbeggan. He has a penalty to carry but looks the type to follow until beaten. Blast Of Koeman followed a Limerick maiden victory with a cracking effort in a very strong Punchestown handicap where he was only headed on the line over slightly further than this. Dorans River was conceding 8lb to Penance when beating that subsequent winner over 3l at Downpatrick and meets that rival on level terms here. Silken Thomas dead-heated at Down Royal though will need a bit more here but the four-year-olds Cook Islands, who beat a huge field on his debut at Punchestown, and the progressive Jefferson Davis, are well worth a look in a competitive race.
Robin Des Foret (IRE) 4-7fav (11-10) Made all, slight mistake 8th, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and slight mistake last, edged right run-in and kept on, won at Kilbeggan 3m 1f Yielding in May beating Hidden Charmer (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Mid-division, 7th 4 out, headway 2 out, went 2nd entering straight, disputed lead approaching last, ridden and led last, stayed on well run-in, headed near line, 2nd of 25, hd behind Magic Of Light (10-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Dorans River (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress into 2nd after 2 out, challenged when slight mistake last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Is She Diesel (11-4) at Ballinrobe 2m gd in May.
Penance (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, under pressure and kept on well run-in to lead close home, won at Ballinrobe 2m 4f mdn gd in May beating Timi Roli (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Silken Thomas (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to dispute 3 out, left in lead 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed before last, disputed from last, kept on well, dead-heated, won at Down Royal 2m mdn gd in May beating All's Quiet (11-4), 14 ran.
Cook Islands (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Raced in 8th early, impeded 5th, pushed along in 4th approaching straight, challenged from before last, soon on terms, led run-in and stayed on best, won at Punchestown 2m 1f mdn gd in May beating Monarch (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 25 ran.
Jefferson Davis (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, 3rd from 6th, close up before straight, soon pushed along, led after 2 out, soon pressed, kept on well run-in, all out, won at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp gd in May beating Zig Zag (11-2) by nk, 11 ran.