tracked leaders, improved on inner to lead before straight, strongly pressed and joined last, headed and kept on without matching winner run-in
soon mid-division, no impression and kept on same pace from before straight
tracked leaders, bad mistake and unseated rider 4th
always prominent, 3rd into straight, kept on same pace under pressure from before last
soon mid-division, no impression under pressure approaching straight, kept on
held up towards rear, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before straight
waited with towards rear, no impression and kept on same pace from before straight
led, narrowly headed approaching 3 out, lost place into straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace
always prominent, gained narrow lead approaching 3 out, headed before straight, every chance between horses when short of room and stumbled before last, switched and kept on well run-in
waited with, niggled along and improved into 5th approaching straight, challenged from between last two, on terms last, led and stayed on well run-in
Heavenly Brook has to be of interest in his first handicap after a comeback second over this trip at Navan. Highdownhill got off the mark over the larger obstacles over 3m1f here last month and will make a bold bid to follow up that victory off a 10lb higher mark but we like the look of ON THE WAY OUT off what may be a lenient rating. John Kiely's nine-year-old beat the useful Stonemaster over track and trip just over a year ago and won over 2m on the Flat last month - he's only run three times over fences. Harpsy Cord and Tullintain were both pulled up when last seen while Ardglen may struggle to reproduce his run in Sunday's Cork National after just 48 hours rest.
Harpsy Cord (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Prominent early, soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mister Farmer (9-12) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 gs in Apr, 15 ran.
Tullintain (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 3 out and no extra next, eased and pulled up before last, in a race won by Caduceus (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 sft in May, 14 ran.
Leggy Lad (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Soon off the pace in mid-division, modderate 8th 4 out, closer order next, kept on same pace from before straight, 8th of 16, 19l behind Acriveen (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 8Evens16 in Oct.
Heavenly Brook (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, headway into 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression winner after 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Our Victoria (10-2) at Navan 2m 4f chs sft in Sep.
Kakagh (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, a bit slow 6 out, dropped to 4th and no extra approaching 4 out, left poor 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Saludos (11-6) at Thurles 2m 2f chs 0-145 in Mar.
On The Way Out (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 5 out, no impression from early straight (coughing post-race), 7th of 10, 39l behind The Hard Hat (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 sft in Nov '11.
Any Bets (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) 4th of 7, 38l behind Torphichen (10-13) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Sep.
Rubert (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway into 5th 4 out, ridden and no extra next, 7th of 20, well behind Caduceus (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-123 gs in Apr.
Ardglen (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Prominent, in front before 3 out, headed next, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 3rd of 17, 18l behind Raz De Maree (11-3) at Cork 3m 4f hcp chs 0-150.
Highdownhill (NZ) 9-1 (11-12) Settled towards rear, headway after headway and 7th 3 out, good progress to go 3rd before next, challenged last and kept on best to lead late run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 1f am hcp ch 0-102 hvy in Oct beating Dark Vagabond (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 21 ran.
