chased leaders in 3rd, mistake 8th, headway 5 out and led briefly next, ridden entering straight and no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on one pace
prominent and tracked leader in 2nd, led before 3 out, asserted between final 2 fences and stayed on well, very easily
always rear, trailing soon after halfway, completely tailed off
prominent and soon led, headed approaching 4 out and dropped to 3rd, soon no extra and no threat early straight, kept on one pace
Enigmatic is certainly the right word for MIKAEL D'HAGUENET but he won't get a better chance to get back on track. A triple Grade 1 winner over timber, he's never really recovered from his fall at the last on his chasing bow at Fairyhouse two years ago but looked to be gradually coming back until falling again at Limerick. He couldn't be backed with confidence but his overall form looks too good for these. He'llberemembered is a progressive novice but it's the useful staying handicap hurdler Western Leader who could provide the main threat as he looked a decent recruit to chasing when scoring at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. Tabhachtach landed a beginners' event at Galway in August but has had a break since falling there a month later.
He'llberemembered (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Settled in mid-division, 6th halfway, good headway to join issue 3 out, led 2 out where jumped left, asserted approaching last where again jumped left, drew clear run-in, easily, won at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Dec beating Johannisberger (11-12) by 7l, 9 ran.
Mikael D'haguenet (FR) 8-11fav (11-6) Disputed lead early, prominent, still close 3rd when fell 5 out, in a race won by Argocat (10-9) at Limerick 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.
Tabhachtach (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leaders early, mistake 3rd, soon settled 4th, 3rd 4 out, 4th 2 out, fell last, in a race won by Imperial Shabra (10-13) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs sft in Sep, 5 ran.
Western Leader (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led and disputed for much and jumped well, disputed lead from 3 out, ridden entering straight, led after last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chase hvy beating Rupert Lamb (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
