held up in rear, pushed along to close early straight, briefly not clear run and switched left approaching last, kept on under pressure to go 3rd close home
tracked leader on outer mainly 3rd, challenged approaching last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace
tracked leader on inner mainly 2nd, 3rd entering straight, soon ridden and no impression from before last, dropped to 6th run-in
mid-division on inner, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra before last
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace under pressure
chased leaders mainly 4th, driven along 2 out, no impression from before last, kept on one pace
made all, driven along and strongly pressed from 2 out, kept on well under pressure run-in
mid-division early, towards rear but in touch from halfway, driven along early straight, no extra from 2 out
After running well over further, CONCRETE AND CLAY gained a deserved success over timber at Thurles back over today's trip and can complete the double despite a 7lb rise. Arklow Ger has been making too many mistakes over fences but reverts to hurdles on a lower mark and must be a danger. The veteran Tipper Road will be having his 80th career start but hasn't won over hurdles for five years and a bigger threat may emerge in the shape of Sole Witness, who beat subsequent easy winner Chico Valdes at Down Royal before a fair run behind Whodoyouthink at Gowran. Mutadarek is on a career-high mark over timber despite the fact that he's won just once in 23 starts.
Queiros Bleu (FR) 20-1 (10-4) Towards rear, kept on one pace without threatening from 2 out, 10th of 19, 13l behind Across The Bay (9-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Jan.
Rory Anna (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) In touch, improved into 3rd 4 out, 4th next, ridden and no impression from 2 out, no extra before last, 7th of 18, 12l behind Golden Sunbird (10-11) at Leopardstown 2m 2f mares hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy.
Henro Boy (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Towards rear, no impression from before 2 out, 11th of 19, 29l behind Peak Raider (9-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy.
Mutadarek 9-1 (9-9) Mid-division, 10th approaching 3 out, rapid headway to lead before 2 out, headed before last, no extra, 7th of 19, 14l behind Peak Raider (9-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy.
Concrete And Clay 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 7th, 5th and headway on outer approaching 3 out, close 2nd 2 out, soon led,, won at Thurles 2m hcp hdl 8Evens16 sft in Jan beating Stony Grey Soil (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Sole Witness (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, progress into 7th before 2 out, kept on from before last, 5th of 13, 8l behind Whodoyouthink (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 1f hcp hdl 8Evens30 sft in Jan.
Arklow Ger (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Prominent, narrow lead halfway, headed 3 out, 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by By The Hour (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Tipper Road (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, 9th approaching 3 out, progress into 6th after 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 13l behind Split Ear (10-2) at Sligo 2m hcp hdl 8Evens16 gd in Jul.
