chased clear leader in 2nd, progress to lead 5f out, pushed along and headed 2f out, ridden and soon no extra in 4th
chased clear leader, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd approaching straight, ridden in 2nd under 2f out and soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace final furlong
chased clear leader, 5th halfway, closer in 4th approaching straight, ridden in 3rd 1 1/2f out and soon no impression, kept on one pace
chased clear leader, 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd approaching straight, led 2f out and soon ridden to assert, kept on well under pressure final furlong
led and soon clear, 20 lengths advantage after 6f, reduced lead halfway and headed 5f out, dropped to rear approaching straight and no extra over 2f out, weakened, tailed off
First Figaro reappears after a break since beating a strong field at Galway and shouldn't have a problem handling the conditions. Dermot Weld won the race a year ago and he'll have this one tuned up for a repeat. The four-year-old LUCKY PASS went for £140,000 after landing a point-to-point at Loughanmore in April and made a successful debut for new connections in a Fairyhouse bumper. The runner-up has come out since and won very easily so Willie Mullins' charge could be something special and gets the nod. New To This Town beat a big field at Thurles last week and will make progress while Jack The Wire didn't get the best of runs in a Listed contest at Navan and can do better.
Beyond The Obvious (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, a little keen, soon close up, lost place from under 5f out, no extra and eased approaching straight, completely tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Champagne Harmony (12-0) at Cork 2m hvy in Nov.
First Figaro (GER) 10-11fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress entering straight and pushed along to lead over 150 yards out, kept on well, won at Galway 2m Yielding in Aug beating Another Cyclone (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Jack The Wire (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along in straight and no impression in 4th over 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 4th of 6, 23l behind Death Duty (11-8) at Navan 2m lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Lucky Pass (FR) 2-1jfav (11-9) Mid-division, 8th halfway, progress into 4th 3f out, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led under 2f out, kept on well from over 1f out, won at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Avellino (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Righty Rue (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led, joined over 4f out, soon headed, dropped to 4th approaching straight, soon no impression, no extra and eased inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 36 1/4l behind Presentingoscar (12-0) at Thurles 2m sft in Nov.
New To This Town (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Rear of mid-division, 11th halfway, progress approaching straight and 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, led over 100 yards out and kept on well, won at Thurles 2m Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Articulum (12-0) by 1l, 17 ran.
