disputed early, tracked leader in 2nd and clear of remainder, 3rd and slight mistake 4 out, soon dropped to rear and not fluent next, weakened and eased, tailed off
chased leaders in 3rd, closer soon after halfway and went 2nd 4 out, led entering straight, pushed along to assert after 2 out and soon clear, kept on well, easily
led from 1st and clear with one rival, pushed along and headed entering straight, soon dropped to 4th and no extra after 2 out
towards rear and well off pace, closer 4 out, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden to go 2nd, no impression on winner when mistake last, kept on one pace
towards rear and well off pace, closer 4 out and went 2nd before 2 out, 3rd and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace
towards rear and well off pace, closer 4 out, 5th and pushed along after next, no impression 2 out, no extra
Onto the hurdles track now and a good chance for PETIT MOUCHOIR to regain the winning thread. Henry De Bromhead's grey, a dual Grade 1 winner in 2016/17, has competed at the highest level over hurdles and fences almost exclusively and takes a big drop in class. Davids Charm has a fitness advantage having completed a double when landing a Grade B handicap at Listowel and is well worth a try at this grade. Ballyoisin is another smart chaser who finished fifth in that latter event when receiving 5lb while Winter Escape was also chasing last season winning two Grade 3 races and racing at the highest level in his last three starts.
Ballyoisin (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Led, joined briefly 1st, slight mistake 5th, ridden and joined before 2 out, narrowly headed before last, no extra run-in and kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Davids Charm (11-4) at Listowel 2m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Davids Charm (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, challenged 3 out, disputed before 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly before last, kept on well run-in, won at Listowel 2m hcp Yielding in Sep beating Lakemilan (9-11) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Petit Mouchoir (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and strongly pressed entering straight, headed before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Buveur D'Air (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Plinth (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, 4th at 5th, niggled along after 2 out, headway to 2nd before last, strongly challenged leader at last where mistake and left in lead, headed run-in, ridden and kept on, held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Just A Normal Day (10-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f hcp sft in Aug.
Winter Escape (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Waited with towards rear, not fluent 8th, mistake 10th, some headway and under pressure from 4 out, no extra from next and pulled up before 2 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Like An Open Book (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Waited with, soon in rear, pushed along and headway from 3 out, chased leaders but no impression and slight mistake 2 out, one pace after, 5th of 11, 15 1/2l behind Darver Star (11-6) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
