tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, 2nd halfway, progress to lead after 4 out, pushed along and headed after 2 out, no impression on winner and not fluent last, kept on one pace
always rear, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along and soon no extra, weakened, remote 3rd and mistake last
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, 3rd halfway, progress into 2nd 3 out, challenged next and soon led, asserted before last where not fluent, kept on well, comfortably
led, ran freely, slight mistake 1st, headed after 4 out, pushed along and no extra in 3rd after 3 out, soon weakened and mistake next, pulled up after 2 out
Willie Mullins has a tremendous record in this and bids to keep up his sequence with two of the four entries. ARKWRISHT looked badly in need of the run on his hurdling debut in November and showed the benefit with a very easy victory in testing conditions at Tramore a month later. He's taken to concede the mares' allowance to Monbeg Rose, whose victory over Myztique here last month has been given a boost by the runner-up. That was over the minimum trip but she had won a point-to-point on her debut so today's distance shouldn't be a problem. Westend Star will be no pushover as he was having just his second start for Gordon Elliott when making all for a facile success at Down Royal last month. Likely to make this a searching test, it's the selection who should be the main beneficiary. Wes Hardin ran well when runner-up in a Punchestown handicap in November but has failed to build on the run in two subsequent starts.
Arkwrisht (FR) 9-10fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, not fluent 7th, progress to lead approaching 2 out, soon asserted and clear before last, stayed on well, easily, won at Tramore 2m 5f mdn hvy in Dec beating Laid Back Luke (11-12) by 17l, 8 ran.
Wes Hardin (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, progress into 5th entering straight, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 13l behind Copy That (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Westend Star (IRE) 8-13fav (11-4) Mid-division, progress into 6th 4 out, closer in 5th 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec beating Infrontofthejudge (11-4) by 14l, 14 ran.
Monbeg Rose (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Made all, pushed along to assert after 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Myztique (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
