tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in remote 3rd from 3 out, went remote 2nd at last, no impression on easy winner
led, mistake and headed 2 out, soon ridden and no impression on easy winner, dropped to remote 3rd at last
tracked leader in 2nd, progress to lead 2 out, soon went clear travelling well, stayed on strongly, heavily eased run-in, trotted past line
held up in last, ridden from 3 out, remote 3rd after 2 out, last at last, no impression
Garrai Phaidin was a fortunate winner at Thurles in February but at least it showed he acts on heavy ground and he hasn't run badly in his two most recent starts. Gibbstown has won five times over fences, all in the UK, but hasn't been seen since a poor run at Hexham in April. Ard Cregg is back on the same mark as when last successful at Thurles in December though she's yet to prove she stays this far on testing ground. WILLOW GRANGE is a long-time maiden with 32 career starts behind him but he's run better recently and won't get many better chances to finally get off the mark so this could be his day. Georgie ran quite well when fourth in this a year ago and also performed with credit over hurdles at Bellewstown in July but he ran a shocker at the latter track a couple of weeks later and is very inconsistent.
Gibbstown (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Towards rear, jumped slowly 3rd, headway after 11th, ridden when bumped next, outpaced in 4th before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, dist behind Flaming Thistle (11-6) at Hexham 3m hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
Ard Cregg (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden after 4 out, no impression in 5th and slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Moss Grove (9-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 7f hcp sft in Sep.
Willow Grange (IRE) 10-3fav (10-12) Towards rear when slightly hampered 2nd, 11th before 5 out, good progress after 3 out and ridden in 4th after next, kept on run-in without matching principals, 3rd of 15, 7 1/4l behind Mister To Mister (10-12) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp gd in Sep.
Georgie 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division on outer, ridden and no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 9th of 15, dist behind Graney Town (10-11) at Ballinrobe 2m 5f hcp gd in Jul.
Garrai Phaidin (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, disputed briefly halfway, left 2nd 5 out, slight mistake and ridden last, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 18, 16l behind He Rock's (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Sep.
