held up in last, not fluent jumping at times, improved into 3rd 5 out, slight mistake and pushed along next, ridden and mistake next, weakened entering straight
quickly clear and made all, jumped slightly left, reduced advantage 5 out, pushed along and stayed on well from 2 out, comfortably
held up in 4th, dropped to last at 7th, ridden in 4th 3 out, no extra in 4th at last, went moderate 3rd close home
tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, no impression in 3rd before last, dropped to moderate 4th close home
tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent 2nd, ridden in 2nd entering straight, kept on same pace without reaching winner from last
Cillian's Return landed a bumper here on New Year's Day and beat a big field at Tipperary on his hurdling debut in May. He couldn't handle Grade 3 company on that track last month but this is more his class. After winning two bumpers, SHEAMUS made a successful debut over timber over this course and distance and though taking on stronger company here has the scope to go on to better things so gets the vote. Time For A Pint is also a dual bumper winner and he made a very promising start over timber when successful over the minimum trip here in May. He's a nice prospect and at this stage may have too much experience for stablemate Speed Demon, a winning point-to-pointer who failed when odds-on for a bumper a year ago but will be much better suited by obstacles. Annamatopoeia scored twice between the flags in the spring and started favourite for a Cork bumper but faded after showing up well for a long way.
Cillian's Return (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ran freely, 4th halfway, no extra after 2 out, 7th of 10, 16l behind Rich Coast (11-1) at Tipperary 2m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) in Oct.
Sheamus (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Prominent, on terms from 5th, soon led, jumped left 7th and not fluent, slightly left and not fluent 3 out, pressed and not fluent 2 out, asserted from before last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hdl gd in Oct beating Couleur France (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Time For A Pint (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, 4th before straight, challenged between horses from before last where gained narrow lead, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl gf in May beating She's A Leader (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 22 ran.
Speed Demon (IRE) 4-5fav (10-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along 3f out and no impression in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Ebazziyr (12-0) at Down Royal 2m NH flat in Nov '13.
Annamatopoeia (IRE) 9-2fav (11-2) Prominent, closer order in 2nd before straight, no impression from 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 16, 21l behind One Cool Princess (11-2) at Cork 2m mrs N H flat in Apr.
