led or disputed lead to halfway, led from 7th, asserted early straight and clear before last, kept on well, easily
tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 2nd, ridden along in 5th approaching 4 out, no extra and weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, some headway into moderate 4th before 2 out, no chance with easy winner and kept on one pace
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden early straight and no impression on winner from 2 out, no extra before last and dropped to 3rd run-in
prominent and disputed lead, headed 7th, 3rd and driven along approaching straight, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
settled towards rear, 6th halfway, no threat from 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th approaching 4 out but no impression entering straight, kept on one pace under pressure to go moderate 2nd closing stages
chased leaders, 7th halfway, no extra from 4 out, weakened, tailed off
MOSCOW CHIEF is bred to be a smart jumper so connections must have been delighted to see him land a bumper at Tipperary last month and he should do even better over hurdles. He looks to have been found a decent opportunity to make a winning start as those with experience look only moderate. A Decent Excuse is definitely improving and was possibly a little unfortunate not to beat Roadtoabbeyfeale at Limerick. He looks the main danger though winning bumper and point-to-pointer Our Only Option can get into the frame and Limerick Lane should be suited by this longer trip.
A Decent Excuse (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th 6 out, 4th next, improved to 2nd after 3 out, challenged entering straight, ridden in close 2nd 2 out, kept on, not clear run on rail run-in, held, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Roadtoabbeyfeale (11-12) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Oct.
Balaic Storm (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tr ldrs, 2nd 1/2way, rdn along when fell 3out, in a race won by Gale Force Oscar (12-0) at Horse And Jockey 3m ire ptp gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Fair Lord (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 14, well behind Fernhurst Lad (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Feb '11.
Limerick Lane (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, progress into 3rd entering straight, soon ridden, kept on one paced, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Special Bar (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f mdn hdl hvy in Oct.
Moscow Chief (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Soon led and disputed, taken to stand's side straight, headed over 1f out, rallied well under pressure to regain lead near finish, won at Tipperary 2m 4f N H flat hvy in Oct beating Caoimhe's Delight (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
On A High 14-1 (11-4) In rear, some progress into moderate 7th 3 out, no extra, 7th of 11, 31l behind Seefood (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Oct.
Our Only Option (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, kept on without threatening from 3 out, 6th of 19, 18l behind Forty Foot Tom (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in May.
Powertakeoff (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Prominent, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression in 5th 2 out, no extra in straight, 8th of 11, 19l behind Call Rog (11-2) at Wexford 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl gd in Oct.
Flemankor (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Mid div, not qckn 3out, ko, 9th of 15, 39l behind Castlefort (12-0) at Oldcastle 3m ire ptp gs in Apr.
