led and disputed, went on from 6th, pushed along and headed entering straight, dropped to 3rd when mistake 2 out, soon no impression and eased
led and disputed, 2nd halfway, pushed along to lead entering straight, ridden after 2 out, strongly pressed last, kept on well close home
towards rear, 3rd halfway, went 2nd on inner entering straight, headway to challenge when mistake last, soon recovered and kept on, no extra close home
towards rear, went modest 3rd after 2 out, kept on one pace
NonRunner
NonRunner
Churchstonewarrior had a light campaign over fences last winter culminating in a Grade 2 victory at Navan for which he's penalised. He was beaten half-a-length by BRONN in a Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse in April last year and the winner followed a similar path over fences having twice been placed behind Gerri Colombe including in the Grade 1 Mildmay at Aintree. Idas Boy made a winning debut over fences and started favourite for a Punchestown Grade 2 a year ago but a bad mistake put paid to his chances. Minella Crooner didn't do as well as expected over fences last winter while the novice Joyeux Machin has much more to do than when scoring here in September.
Bronn (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place after 3rd, blundered 14th, went 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner and dropped to 3rd last, no extra inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 10 3/4l behind Gerri Colombe (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Minella Crooner (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, jumped right 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (1) sft in Mar.
Joyeux Machin (FR) 7-2 (11-3) Towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along to go 4th entering straight, headway between horses when short of room over 1f out, soon ridden and kept on well to lead close home, won at Wexford 2m 4f Yielding in Sep beating Effernock Fizz (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Time To Rocco (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Mid-division, improved to track leaders after 3rd, 2nd approaching straight, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, ridden in 7th before next, no extra, 8th of 12, 18 1/2l behind Conyers Hill (11-10) at Cork 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Churchstonewarrior (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Disputed lead early, headed 3rd and remained prominent, improved to lead after 3 out, ridden and slight mistake next, joined briefly at last, led and stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Navan 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Feb beating Mahler Mission (11-3) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Idas Boy (IRE) 13-8fav (11-3) Tracked leader, mistake and pecked badly 1st, soon dropped to rear, 3rd at 4th, not fluent 7th, in touch in 4th when eased and pulled up after 8th, at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) Yielding in Nov.
