towards rear on outer, pushed along 5th, headway to track leaders on outer next, ridden 4 out, soon weakened quickly
took keen hold and tracked leaders, led after 4th, headed and ridden 3 out, dropped to 4th next where left moderate 3rd, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden in 2nd 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden in 8th before 3 out, 7th when left moderate 5th 2 out, went moderate 4th at last, no extra
led, headed after 4th, close 4th on inner 4 out, soon ridden, under pressure in 3rd when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, some progress 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, trailing 2 out
held up in touch in rear, closer 7th 4 out, ridden in 5th on outer next where pecked on landing, under pressure in 5th when brought down 2 out
tracked leaders, improved to lead 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching next, kept on same pace in 2nd from 2 out
mid-division, close 5th 4 out, pushed along and good headway to lead approaching 2 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well from last, comfortably
Shutter Island returned to form at Limerick but has never raced beyond the minimum trip. Definite Soldier has been sent to the UK for his four runs to date and improved with each of them, gaining an impressive victory over a subsequent winner at Hexham last month. He'll make further progress though this is tougher with last week's Sligo winner Some Drama just 4lb higher and racing over his optimum trip. Battling Boru found two miles on the short side at Punchestown and was staying on strongly at the finish but all roads point to ESHTIAAL here. Gordon Elliott's five-year-old has been raised 12lb for a facile victory in a Ballinrobe handicap on Monday but comes here with just a 6lb penalty and a quick follow-up looks on the cards.
The King Of Brega (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Slight mistake 1st, held up, 12th after 4th, dropped to last 5 out, pulled up approaching next,, in a race won by Blood Cotil (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov hcp chs, 17 ran.
Definite Soldier (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead before last, kept on well, won at Hexham 3m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr beating Alto Des Mottes (10-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
Futuramic (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from 3 out, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, dropped to 3rd from last, no extra run-in, 5th of 11, 8l behind Never Said That (10-9) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp hdl gd in Apr.
Some Drama (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, close 6th on inner 2 out, soon short of room until close 4th and ridden at last, headway inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Sligo 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 sft beating Personal Shopper (9-4) by hd, 12 ran.
Battling Boru (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, ridden in 13th 2 out, 10th entering straight, kept on without threatening from last, 5th of 25, 10l behind Bog War (10-4) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 88-123 in Apr.
Shake The Bucket (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, bad mistake 4th, progress 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, 4th entering straight, kept on without threatening to go 3rd at last, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Annie Oakley (11-7) at Wexford 2m 7f nov chs 0-123 gd in Apr.
Powersbomb (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Close up, took keen hold, soon disputed lead, not fluent 4th, joined approaching 3 out where not fluent, headed and soon no extra and eased, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Gold Tantrum (10-8) at Kilbeggan 2m hcp hdl 80-109 in Apr.
Crystal Earth (IRE) 9-2fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, slight mistake in 3rd next, no impression before last, 6th of 19, 7l behind Green Energy (10-10) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 80-109 in Mar '14.
Eshtiaal (USA) 11-8fav (11-6) Tracked leaders on inner, pushed along briefly 3 out, headway travelling well into 3rd next, ridden to lead 2f out, soon went clear, stayed on well run-in, eased close home, easily, won at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-102 gd beating Desert Roe (10-9) by 10l, 16 ran.
Shutter Island (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, on terms from 3 out, pushed along to lead before straight, headed before 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Space Ship (11-7) at Limerick 2m hdl 0-116 gd.
