led, ridden after 3 out, headed entering straight, soon weakened
tracked leader in 2nd, led briefly entering straight, ridden and headed before 2 out, dropped to 3rd 2 out, 4th before last, no impression and regained 3rd inside final furlong
held up in last, good headway travelling well into 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and dropped to 3rd at last, weakened and dropped to 4th inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to lead before 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed briefly after 2 out, stayed on well run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold, slight mistake 2nd, closer 4th 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in
The filly MERI DEVIE, a useful performer on the Flat in France, looked a very smart hurdling prospect when making a winning start for Willie Mullins at Leopardstown in December. Her next two starts were in Grade 1 company and she wasn't beaten far behind Bapaume in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle back on the same track before well beaten when tackling a longer trip at Auteuil. Early Doors was the easy winner of a Punchestown bumper and, though having to fight hard, made a winning debut over timber at Wexford. He'll have come on markedly for that while Ex Patriot wasn't far behind Jezki at Tipperary last month before disappointing on the Flat. Gordon Elliott saddles Delta Work, who beat a huge field of maidens at Punchestown in very impressive fashion in May, and French import Duca De Thaix, who completed a double when scoring at Auteuil last October.
Amaulino (FR) 6-1cfav (10-13) Mid-division on outer, ridden after 4 out, weakened, 11th of 14, 33 1/2l behind Presenting Julio (10-0) at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Delta Work (FR) 10-11fav (11-4) Prominent, soon chased leader, slight mistake 5th, closed from before 2 out, led approaching straight, soon asserted, stayed on well, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 1f mdn gd in May beating Sea Bank (11-12) by 20l, 22 ran.
Duca De Thaix (FR) (10-5) won at Auteuil 2m 2f sft in Oct beating Dame De Compagnie (10-1) by nk, 16 ran.
Early Doors (FR) 4-6fav (11-7) Chased leaders, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, 6th halfway, progress into 2nd 3 out, soon improved to lead, mistake and pressed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well from last, won at Wexford 2m mdn sft in Oct beating Niven (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Meri Devie (FR) (9-13) last of 11, dist behind Prince Ali (10-5) at Auteuil 2m 3f sft in May.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 4-1fav (8-10) Soon chased clear leader, under pressure approaching straight, soon lost place and no impression, 9th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Wonder Laish (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Oct.
