led, headed 5th, led briefly after 9th, pushed along in 3rd after 12th, no extra in 5th 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, moderate 5th halfway, pushed along in 4th 4 out and left moderate 3rd 2 out, no extra
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, mistake 4th and reminders, slow 5th, towards rear halfway, detached 11th and pulled up before next
chased leaders, moderate 8th halfway, no extra after 13th, behind and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, progress to lead 10th, slight mistake and headed 12th, slight mistake 4 out and soon no impression on leader, 3rd and unseated rider 2 out
chased leaders, moderate 7th halfway, no extra from 13th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, 10th halfway, some progress after halfway, moderate 6th and blundered 14th, no extra, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, pushed along and no extra after 12th, behind and pulled up before 14th
always rear, never a factor, slight mistake 3rd, detached before 5th, pulled up before 11th
chased leaders, mistake 6th, 10th when blundered and unseated rider 9th
rear of mid-division, never a factor, moderate 9th halfway, mistake 13th, no extra approaching straight, left remote 4th 2 out, completely tailed off
tracked leader, led 5th until 9th, led again 12th, slight mistake next, drew clear travelling well before straight, 2 lengths lead when pecked badly last, ridden to assert again run-in
chased leaders, moderate 6th halfway, some progress approaching straight and went 2nd before 2 out, ridden to close before last and briefly challenged run-in, no impression on winner close home
It's a very long time since Luska Lad won two Grade 2 races over hurdles and finished a close third to Hurricane Fly in the Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown but he's been in good form between the flags and may not be finished yet, especially with Patrick Mullins in the saddle. Jamie Codd's presence on board Gullivar is a bonus though his mount is held by Luska Lad on their run at Ballyragget in March. Two Rockers is a smart hunter when managing to complete the course and he and SYDNEY PAGET could fight out the finish here as they did at Boulta in November. The former prevailed by a couple of lengths but the runner-up will now be ridden by Derek O'Connor, which should swing things his way. Current Exchange has won no less than half of his 26 starts between the flags and, though having little chance against the classy Marito on his return to regulation fences at Down Royal last month, looks certain to give another good account.
Current Exchange (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Led and disputed, ridden and headed before 2 out, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Marito (11-11) at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Anseanachai Cliste (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, bad mistake 4 out, ridden entering straight, 7th and no extra before 2 out where hampered, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 36 1/2l behind Marito (11-11) at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Drawn N Drank (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute 13th, led before 5 out, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed before 2 out, kept on well from before last, pressed close home, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f sft in Apr beating Cork Citizen (11-10) by 1l, 5 ran.
Hix Fix (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 3 out, stayed on into 5th 2 out and hampered, no impression in 3rd last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 20 1/2l behind Marito (11-11) at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Celtic Thunder (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leader, disputed from 6th, ridden in 3rd before 2 out and no extra, fell 2 out, at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Gullivar (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Led, slow 1st, not fluent 7th, mistake 9th, slightly slow 10th, pushed along before straight, headed 2 out, no extra run-in and rider without iron crossing line, 2nd of 12, 15l behind It Came To Pass (12-0) at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hvy in Dec.
High Web (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Held up, fell 2nd, at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hvy in Dec.
Luska Lad (IRE) 5-2 (12-1) Ld/disp, nrw adv 1/2way, mstk 9th, hdd 5out, wo agn 3out, hdd early str, kow, disq-took wrong course, 2nd of 15, 8l behind Ringrone Castle (12-1) at Borris House 3m sft in Dec.
Pairc Na Leasa (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Soon chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, soon raced in 7th, under pressure from 4 out, no extra from before next, 14th of 18, 31 1/4l behind Phil The Flyer (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Rossanwee (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, progress into 7th at 9th, ridden in 6th 3 out, no impression 2 out, 4th last, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 21 1/4l behind Marito (11-11) at Down Royal 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Tareesh Lane (IRE) 3-1 (12-1) Rcd 7th, clsr 5th 5out, impr 3rd 3out, disp 2out & last where better jump, ld run in, all out, won at Maralin 3m hvy in Nov beating Ballyoptic (12-1) by nk, 10 ran.
Two Rockers (IRE) 6-4 (11-10) Ld/disp, ld frm 4th, 4l adv 6th & 2l adv bef 3out, gng best with 2l adv ebf last, asserted flat, game, won at Boulta 3m sft in Nov beating Sydney Paget (12-1) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Carrigeen Acebo (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Tr ldrs, 4th 1/2way, 4th app str, 2nd 2out, ld last, strgly pressed run-in, held on, won at Mainstown 3m sft in Nov beating The Hard Hat (11-5) by nk, 8 ran.
Faith Keeper (IRE) 9-1 (10-1) Mid-division, blundered and rider lost iron briefly 2nd, stumbled and fell on bend after 6th, at Exeter 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Sydney Paget (IRE) Evens (12-1) Chsd ldrs, 15l 3rd by 5th, clsr in 6l 3rd 6out, 2l 2nd bef 3out until btn up in 2l 2nd bef last, kow, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Two Rockers (11-10) at Boulta 3m sft in Nov.
