led, jumped left, bad mistake 3rd, pressed and almost joined 2 out, stayed on well under pressure run-in
soon towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
soon raced in 4th, pushed along after 8th, no impression approaching straight, 3rd at last, one pace
soon raced in moderate 7th, no impression in moderate 8th approaching straight, no extra and pulled up before last
held up, soon moderate 9th, never a factor, tailed off
jumped big 1st, always towards rear, tailed off
raced in 2nd for much, ridden to chase winner into straight, closed 2 out and almost on terms, kept on well without matching winner run-in
soon raced in moderate 6th, no impression in 5th approaching straight, kept on same pace
soon raced in moderate 5th, hit 3rd, no impression in moderate 6th approaching straight, slight mistake last
soon raced in moderate 8th, no impression in moderate 7th approaching straight, kept on same pace
towards rear, slight mistake 4th, distant 9th before 4 out, kept on same pace without threatening
soon raced in 3rd, hit 5th, no impression and one pace 2 out, dropped to 4th and slight mistake last
always towards rear, tailed off
AMERICAN TOM arrived from France with a big reputation, despite being beaten on his only start, and easily beat today's rival Squouateur over hurdles at Gowran last November. He holds two Grade 1 entries later this month so connections must obviously be expecting big things. Winning point-to-pointer Double Island did reasonably well over hurdles but was always going to be a chaser though it's Marchese Marconi who may prove the most troublesome. He's rated 142 over hurdles after his Grade 2 victory at Fairyhouse in March and has the experience of a run over fences on this track behind him. Woodland Opera ended the last campaign with a very good victory over hurdles on this track and looked in need of the run on his debut over fences here last month so is expected to improve considerably.
American Tom (FR) 8-15fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, close up when left in front 2 out, soon clear, kept on well run-in, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m sft in Nov beating Squouateur (11-9) by 6 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ancient Sands (IRE) 11-4fav (8-13) Ran 5th, 6th halfway, good headway to 2nd 1 1/2f out, soon ridden and edged left, strongly challenged leader 1f out, kept on well, not match winner close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Jaqen H'ghar (8-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Bentelimar (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Raced in 3rd, dropped to rear after 3 out and soon no extra, last of 5, 27 1/2l behind Identity Thief (11-4) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Nov.
Blue Hell (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, 22nd of 26, dist behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Double Island (IRE) 13-8jfav (11-12) Led, joined from 1st, led after 6th, soon joined again, pushed along into straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression in 3rd, no extra from before last, 3rd of 14, 21l behind Haymount (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Mar.
Follow The Sign (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Held up, moderate 8th from 6th, no extra from before 4 out, fell last, at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Gangster (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up early, closer in 6th 4 out, ridden 2 out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Bellshill (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Marchese Marconi (IRE) 9-10fav (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th and slight mistake 3rd, slight mistake 7th where disputed 3rd, soon pushed along in moderate 4th, chased winner 4 out, soon no impression, rider dropped whip run-in, dropped to moderate 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Chatham House Rule (11-10) at Punchestown 2m gd in May.
Squouateur (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 8th 4 out, no impression from next, never a factor, 7th of 17, 27 3/4l behind Min (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Uncle Danny (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 1st and 2nd, moderate 5th from 6th, no impression approaching 4 out, 6th of 12, dist behind Bellshill (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Velocity Boy (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, ran freely, never a factor, some progress and jumped left 3 out, moderate 7th next, kept on one pace, 6th of 16, 23 1/2l behind Anibale Fly (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Woodland Opera (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Prominent and disputed, slight mistakes 2nd and 8th, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, no extra before last, 5th of 14, 18 3/4l behind Haymount (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f sft in Nov.
Twiss's Hill (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, slight mistake 7th, 3rd halfway, led 5 out, ridden and headed before straight, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 3m hcp Good - Yielding in May.
