tracked leaders in 3rd, weakening when fell last
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
tracked winner, blundered 2 out, lost 2nd at last, no extra
held up in touch in 4th, not fluent 4th, outpaced next, headway after 2 out, chased winner last, no impression
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon outpaced, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, struggling from 4 out, tailed off 3 out, left remote 4th last
made all, clear before 2 out, easily
towards rear, pushed along 5th, soon struggling, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
Birzali has only managed one place in 11 starts over timber but usually takes on better opposition than this and can't be ignored. Shanroe Secret has claims on his fourth at Down Royal in March but Welsh Bard isn't improving and is now blinkered. HALIFAX was a decent middle-distance performer on the Flat and should improve on his two runs so far over hurdles now he tackles a faster surface. He's just preferred to point-to-point and bumper winner Four Shuck Men.
Birzali (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 3 out, no impression when badly hampered and carried wide 2 out, no extra, 13th of 25, 49l behind Wedding Present (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl gs in Apr.
Escape Artist 66-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th when weakening, tailed off before 2 out, 9th of 10, well behind Scriptwriter (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Four Shuck Men (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Led, headed 8f out, stayed prominent, led again 1f out, held on, won at Southwell 2m cond NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating Reverb (10-9) by nk, 10 ran.
Halifax (IRE) 17-2 (10-6) Prominent, ridden in 4th when not fluent next, no extra 2 out, 4th of 12, 23l behind Tick Tocker (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f 4yo mdn stks (5) gd in Apr.
Shanroe Secret (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Waited with, some headway to chase leaders before straight, no impression and kept on same pace from 3 out, 7th of 18, 26l behind Hazariban (10-4) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 in Apr.
Two Oscars (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 6th of 11, 32l behind Trend Is My Friend (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Welsh Bard (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Made most, hung right and reminders on bend after 5th, headed 4 out, weakened from next, 4th of 5, 39l behind Coverholder (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Witch Way 100-1 (10-2) Always towards rear, 9th of 11, well behind Trend Is My Friend (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
