rear of mid-division, some headway after 4 out, went 4th entering straight, pushed along and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace into 2nd run-in
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and lost place 3 out, soon no extra, weakened
rear of mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out and 3rd on outer early straight, pushed along and no impression on winner in 2nd approaching last, no extra run-in
rear of mid-division, not fluent 4th, pushed along and no extra after 4 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, led after 3 out, strongly pressed next and soon headed, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last, no extra run-in
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no extra, weakened
mid-division, 6th halfway, headway approaching straight and travelled well to lead after 2 out, asserted before last and kept on well run-in
mid-division, pushed along in 6th before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression in 5th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
led, pushed along 3 out and soon headed, no extra before next, eased
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, still close up when stumbled and unseated rider after 3 out
towards rear, never a factor, slightly hampered after 3 out, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra
in rear, detached before 2nd, headway 3 out and pushed along in 6th next, ridden and no impression when not fluent last, kept on one pace
Laid Back Luke showed his liking for this sort of ground and trip at Gowran last week though an 8lb rise makes this more difficult. Sire Du Berlais joined Gordon Elliott after winning in France in 2016 and he was highly tried in his two runs last year. He's in two races at Cheltenham and is definitely one to watch. Drumacoo is a smart chaser but though he looks well handicapped back over hurdles he failed to take advantage of a lower mark at Navan in December. Brave Out is running well and only just failed to hold off Returntovendor at Punchestown though could have done without a 3lb rise. OUT OF THE LOOP is only five but looks capable of going on to better things and is taken to shrug off a 9lb rise for his victory over the track and trip in December.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Held up, 18th approaching 4th, slightly hampered 6th, no impression from before straight, 13th of 24, 22 1/2l behind Open Eagle (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Carrig Cathal 11-10fav (11-12) Chased leaders and unseated rider 1st, at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding in Oct.
Drumacoo (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway in 3rd 5 out, challenged 2 out and soon led, steadied and headed last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Westerner Point (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Lean Araig (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, dropped to rear before 2 out, no extra and weakened, completely tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Killultagh Vic (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Turbojet 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, impeded final hurdle, ridden to chase winner straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 4th of 29, 8 1/4l behind Mine Now (11-0) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Ah Littleluck (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out, slight mistake last, 10th of 18, 8 1/2l behind Lasoscar (10-2) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp gd in Aug.
Out Of The Loop 5-4fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, improved to lead before 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed and not fluent at last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec beating Nobody Home (10-6) by 3 1/4l, 14 ran.
Half The Odds (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd after 4th, no extra from before 2 out, 6th of 10, 31 3/4l behind Hareth (10-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Laid Back Luke (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led, pressed 3 out, ridden and joined 2 out, kept on best from last, led again run-in, rider lost whip closing stages, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb beating Call The Taxie (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Fine Theatre (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Led early, tracked leader and headway to dispute 6th, led 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, no extra from next, weakened, 7th of 15, 36 1/4l behind Monbeg Notorious (10-2) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Brave Out (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, good headway on inner entering straight, led briefly last, under pressure run-in and no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Returntovendor (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Allez Kal (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, moderate 4th at 5th, lost position approaching 7th, pushed along into straight, closed and effort from 2 out, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Lackaneen Leader (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
