held up, mistakes 3rd and 4th, 6th 5 out, no extra from 3 out
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress after 3 out, 3rd and challenged after 2 out, led narrowly last, kept on under pressure
held up, progress into moderate 7th 5 out, no impression from 3 out
always behind, mistake 2nd, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders in 3rd, close up 3 out, ridden and dropped to 5th before 2 out, soon no extra
led, joined 6th, mistake and headed 3 out, soon weakened, eased before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, 4th before 2 out, 3rd and challenged after last, no extra close home
tracked leaders in 5th, 7th halfway, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
raced in 2nd, disputed lead from 6th, led 3 out, strongly pressed from next, narrowly headed last, kept on under pressure
By The Hour has yet to score over fences but should be putting that right this year though he probably needs further and has an absence to overcome. Olifan d'Oudairies was having only his third start over fences when landing an incident-packed event over 2m4f at Down Royal where he jumped his rivals silly. Willies Girl had a very unlucky run in that race and may be good enough to reverse the form on the revised terms. It's a surprise to see Lock Mor Lad and Yachvili, who fought out a dour battle over 2m6f at Ballinrobe, dropping back to this much shorter trip but it may just suit RUMREELIC. Liz Doyle's mare gained her only success in a point on soft ground and has been racing on much faster going recently with her recent second to Curragh Grey at Killarney, where she led for much of the way over the 2m5f trip, suggesting conditions and distance will be in her favour.
Willies Girl (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, badly hampered and lost place 6th, in touch when brought down 4 out, in a race won by Olifan d'Oudairies (10-10) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Aug, 12 ran.
By The Hour (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, in touch in 6th when slight mistake 4 out, 4th and ridden next, 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Indifference Curve (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f beg chase hvy in Apr.
Yachvili (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, progress 4 out, 3rd 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, challenged after last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Lock Mor Lad (10-11) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-109).
Spin Box (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 8th and no extra before 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 30l behind Lilywhitedancer (11-6) at Navan 2m nov chs hvy in Mar.
Lock Mor Lad (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, 7th halfway, smooth progress on inner after 5 out, led next, bumped 3 out, strongly pressed from 2 out, kept on under pressure, all out, won at Ballinrobe 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-109) beating Yachvili (11-2) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Olifan d'Oudairies (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Led, headed 5 out, left in lead next, ridden and kept on well from after 3 out, won at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Aug beating Keoghs Tradbar (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Peak Raider (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway from 4 out, 4th straight, kept on same pace under pressure from after 2 out, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Cheer Up (10-7) at Cork 2m hcp hdl 8Evens16 hvy in Apr.
Highglen (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, no impression from 4 out, 9th of 13, well behind Publicize (9-12) at Limerick 2m 3f nov chs hvy in Jan '09.
Rakamasi 8-1 (10-7) Towards rear, some headway from 6 out, moderate 5th approaching straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 29l behind Oola Lad (11-0) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-102 gd in May.
Rumreelic (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Disputed lead, led from 8th, ridden and edged clear before 3 out, bad mistake 2 out, strongly pressed from last, headed close home, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Curragh Grey (11-4) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp chs 0-102 gf in Aug.
Westmeath Bachelor (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Always prominent, disputed early, disputed again from 7th until narrow advantage after 4 out, strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 8l behind Galway Legend (11-1) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 gf.
