led and soon clear, reduced advantage before halfway, mistake 4 out, headed and dropped to 3rd early straight, pecked on landing 2 out, kept on same pace without troubling winner
chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, closer before halfway, pushed along and mistake 2 out, soon no impression on winner, not fluent last and kept on under pressure run-in
chased leader in 3rd, closer before halfway, pushed along and headway to lead early straight, asserted after 2 out, ridden out and kept on run-in
chased leader in 4th, closer before halfway, ridden approaching straight and no impression from 2 out, kept on same pace
WHITE STAR LINE, placed three times over fences at Cheltenham, had never won a race over the bigger obstacles before a very impressive success in the Kerry National at Listowel last month. The assessor raised him 13lb so it's hardly a surprise to see him in a conditions race and he should add to Dessie Hughes' excellent record in the event. Make A Track is potentially a smart performer over fences as he was having just his second start when beating the useful Vesper Bell at Thurles where the going was very testing. Becauseicouldntsee has won just once over fences in 19 starts which is a poor return for a horse who was placed in last year's Kim Muir and who has always competed at a high level. Ros Brin's only victory over fences was on this track but he has a lot to find against three useful rivals.
Becauseicouldntsee (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Mid-division, not fluent and lost place 8th, reminder after 9th, struggling 15th, 11th of 16, well behind Balthazar King (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd.
Make A Track (IRE) 11-8 (11-12) Always prominent, led early and again briefly at 5th, tracked leader in 2nd until ridden to lead 2 out, jumped right last and kept on best under pressure run-in, won at Thurles 2m 6f beg chs hvy in Nov beating Vesper Bell (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
White Star Line (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Waited with towards rear, some headway from 7 out, strong improvement around outer after 3 out, led into straight, clear from before 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Listowel 3m sft in Sep beating Carlingford Lough (11-7) by 5l, 18 ran.
Ros Brin (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Waited with behind leaders, ridden into 4th approaching straight, chased leaders and no impression from before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Immediate Response (11-8) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs in Mar.
