A competitive opener in which Macbride carries the maximum due to his bumper victories and, though running into a smart one last month, looked as though he needed further at Naas. The four-year-old Ball D'arc is also saddled with extra for a very impressive bumper victory at Thurles but Gordon Elliott's point-to-point winner could be very smart. Bello Conti was placed in a minor contest at Fontainebleau in February but the form hasn't worked out so the vote goes to DOUBLE ISLAND. Henry De Bromhead's point-to-point winner made a very encouraging debut over timber at Fairyhouse where he just found the Flat pace of Open Eagle too much for him. He'll be better for the run and, with testing ground again likely, can go one better. Madfuninthewest can provide the main threat as he ran an excellent race behind the odds-on Bleu Et Rouge on heavy going at Cork when the remainder where well beaten off.
Macbride (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd on inner entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on without threatening winner, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Hunters Call (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Peregrine Run (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden and no impression before straight, 11th of 22, dist behind Woodland Opera (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Ball D'Arc (FR) 2-1fav (11-11) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to lead 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on strongly, easily, won at Thurles 2m Yielding in Nov beating Timmone (11-11) by 9l, 8 ran.
Bello Conti (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Orbasa (10-10) at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hvy in Feb.
Dixie Highway (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Soon led, joined before straight, soon pushed along, headed 2f out, weakened and eased from over 1f out, last of 12, 23 1/4l behind Brosnan (9-8) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Double Island (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to lead 2 out, soon strongly pressed, headed approaching last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Open Eagle (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
Dr Waluigi (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Mid-division well off pace, never a factor, remote 10th entering straight, 7th at last, kept on one pace, 5th of 20, dist behind Stone Hard (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Either In Or Out (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, slight mistake 7th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Tongie (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f mdn sft in Nov.
Hunters Vision (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, slight mistake 4 out, no impression next, kept on one pace, 9th of 15, 30 1/2l behind Fruits Of Molly (11-4) at Tipperary 2m mdn gd in Oct.
Madfuninthewest (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Led, a little keen, mistake 2nd, pressed straight, headed before last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
Mordecai (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, slight mistakes 1st and 6th, ridden and no impression before straight, 20th of 22, dist behind Woodland Opera (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Tidal Star 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden on outer entering straight, 5th 2f out, weakened, 10th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Mountmills (9-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
All In The Head (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, 3rd 4f out, soon under pressure, no impression and one pace approaching straight, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Our Duke (12-0) at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Fly Round The Bend (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, not fluent jumping, no impression from 4 out, soon no extra, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
Miss Boru (IRE) Brian Boru filly out of Breanletter.
No More Iffs (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Alw twrds rr, 11th aftr a mile & last 6out, sl prog aftr 4out until no impr in mod 8th when fell 3out, at Dromahane 3m mdn in Oct.
Raising Hope (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression before 3 out, 14th of 16, dist behind Ten Times Better (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn gs in Oct.
Twiss's Hill (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, never a factor, slight mistake 3rd, no threat from 4th, 14th of 20, dist behind Stone Hard (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Pearl Heart (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, 10th 3 out, pushed along entering straight, no extra, 8th of 19, 34 1/4l behind Toushan (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Mar.
Emerald Honours (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Always rear, never a factor, not fluent 3rd, no threat from 4th, 16th of 20, dist behind Stone Hard (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Total Silence (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Jumped slightly left 2nd, rear of mid-division, jumped slightly left 5th, no impression from 4 out, poor 7th and slight mistake 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 13, dist behind Bleu Et Rouge (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
