chased leaders early, held up in 6th halfway, slight mistake 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out
always towards rear, ridden and no impression before 2 out where fell
chased leaders, slightly hampered 1st, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra in 4th last, kept on one pace run-in
soon chased leader, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 11th, mistake 5 out, improved to challenge before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out and ridden, close 3rd and challenged last, no extra closing stages run-in
led, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, ridden entering straight, stayed on to challenge 2 out, narrow lead before last, kept on under pressure run-in, headed on line
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression before 2 out
chased leader, slow 1st, 2nd halfway, ridden to lead and dispute entering straight, narrowly headed before last, kept on well run-in and strongly pressed leader, led on line
LIVING NEXT DOOR (NAP) still has an entry at Cheltenham on Tuesday and in the Grand National, which looks a realistic option. The Paddy Power winner went up 12lb for that big race success but the runner-up, Foxrock, has since performed brilliantly and is now on 164 so it could be argued that Tony Martin's charge is very well handicapped despite a big weight. Owega Star was 10l behind in the Paddy Power and had produced another big run in the Troytown Handicap at Navan earlier so he should get closer at the revised weights. Miss Xian hadn't shown much over fences before a very impressive victory here last month while Knock Beauty completed a hat-trick around this time a year ago. Letter Of Credit has crept back up the weights without winning.
Owega Star (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Mid-division early, 8th halfway, ridden entering straight, no impression before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 26, 11l behind Living Next Door (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcap ch hvy in Dec.
Letter Of Credit (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Soon raced in 4th, slight mistake 11th, 3rd from 13th, challenged and almost on terms when mistake last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind No Secrets (11-5) at Navan 3m hcp chs (10yo+) hvy.
Ad Idem 11-2 (11-4) In rear, progess and mistake 3 out, 4th next, challenged in 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 4l behind No Secrets (11-5) at Navan 3m hcp chs (10yo+) hvy.
Sonny B (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Prominent, 3rd from 6th, close up before straight, mistake 3 out, soon no impression, 6th and jumped right last, 6th of 13, 20l behind Toon River (11-6) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp chs in Feb.
Allied Victory (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Bumped and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Miss Xian (10-1) at Naas 3m hcp chs in Feb, 16 ran.
Bothair Clei (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Soon mid-division, slight mistake 4th, 10th after next, 8th before straight, chasing leaders when badly hampered 2 out and rider lost irons, no extra, 6th of 15, 38l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs in Feb.
Knock Beauty (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 11th, headed 5 out, soon ridden, weakened from 3 out, pulled up last, in a race won by Sword Fish (11-1) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Miss Xian (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, 4th from 8th, some slightly slow jumps, close up 3 out, led before straight, asserted approaching last, eased home run-in, comfortably, won at Naas 3m hcp chs in Feb beating Thelobstercatcher (11-4) by 12l, 16 ran.
Living Next Door (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, progess into 10th after 4 out, travelled well in 6th entering straight, closed in 4th last, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well closing stages, won at Leopardstown 3m hcap ch hvy in Dec beating Foxrock (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 26 ran.
