held up, 8th from 3rd, closed before 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, soon pushed along and no impression, weakened
held up, slight mistake 2nd, 9th from next, pushed along 4 out, soon headway, challenged from before straight, soon on terms, led between last 2, asserted from before last where slightly slow, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, soon raced in 3rd, slight mistake 5th and reminder, under pressure 7th, 6th from next, dropped to last 4 out and no impression, slight mistake 3 out, not fluent next
prominent, on terms from 3rd, led 7th, joined approaching 3 out, headed between last 2, no impression and kept on same pace from before last
chased leaders, 6th from 3rd, slight mistake 8th, soon raced in 7th, slight mistake 4 out, no impression approaching straight, not fluent last
led, joined from 3rd, headed 7th, 3rd from next, no impression from before 3 out, weakened
held up in touch, slight mistake 2nd, 7th from 3rd, closer in 2nd from 8th, on terms approaching 3 out, headed from next, no impression and kept on same pace from before last
prominent, a little keen, 4th from 3rd, no extra and one pace 2 out
held up in touch, took keen hold, closer in 5th from 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, no impression approaching straight, soon no extra
in rear, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, pushed along 5 out, no extra from before 3 out
Nerual ran her best race so far when fourth at Fairyhouse in January. That was her first run in a handicap and she’s only a pound higher here. Raz De Maree hasn’t run over hurdles since this time last year but was second in the Welsh National on his latest start over fences and is rated 25lb lower over the smaller obstacles. Hollow Tree has won at the highest level and has been getting closer again lately, though his losing run now stretches back to 2011. RUE HILL was well clear of Michael Hourigan’s charge when second at Gowran last month. He was put up 3lb for that but Dylan Robinson takes off 5lb and Denis Hickey’s runner can go one better. Plain Talking shot up the weights last summer and hasn’t raced since well beaten on the Flat in October.
Plain Talking (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Soon pushed along towards rear, never a factor, no extra and eased final furlong, 22nd of 26, 15 1/4l behind New Direction (8-4) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Diamond Cauchois (FR) 33-1 (9-10) Mid-division on outer, 8th 5 out, weakened from 3 out, never a factor, 16th of 20, dist behind Isleofhopendreams (9-10) at Punchestown 3m hcp sft in Feb.
Captain Von Trappe (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 8th 4 out, ridden from next, kept on one pace from 2 out, never a factor, 5th of 13, 31 1/4l behind Mad Brian (11-3) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Raz De Maree (FR) 33-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, lost place after 6th, 8th 5 out, stayed on from 4 out, 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner but finished well to close gap from last, 2nd of 20, 1 3/4l behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Toubaloo (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 7th at 6th, mistake 9th, soon closed, 6th before straight, soon slightly impeded and slipped up, at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Hollow Tree 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress 3 out and 2nd approaching straight, ridden after 2 out and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Sutton Manor (11-9) at Thurles 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Nerual (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Soon mid-division, 13th from 5th, went 8th approaching straight, chased leaders and wandered slightly between last 2, no impression but kept on run-in, 4th of 25, 5 3/4l behind Nicole's Milan (10-5) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp sft in Jan.
Rue Hill (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Held up, 11th at 6th, pushed along to go 2nd before straight, soon left in lead, joined approaching last, headed and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 17, 1 3/4l behind Mine Now (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Swift (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) A little keen, chased leaders, 7th from 3rd, 5th before straight, no extra from after 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 22 1/2l behind Peace N' Milan (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb.
Steak And Spuds (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, moderate 6th early, pushed along 6th, soon no danger, tailed off, 13th of 18, dist behind Zipporah (12-2) at Clonmel 2m hcp hvy in Feb.
