17:41
WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle (Div I)
2m6½f, Hurdle, 4yo+, Rated 0-100, 19 runners
Winning time 6m 7.20s
- Going
- Yielding
- Surface
- Turf
Result
Miss J Townend
Paul John Gilligan
Started towards the back and made ground before the 7th - up to 4th after that then slipped back before the 9th - found more after 4 out and stayed on into contention by 2 out - hit the front turning into the straight - went clear last time - stayed on strongly to the line
Conor Smithers (7)
Norman Lee
Sat close up early - dropped to 5th before settling 3rd around the 7th - made ground before 9th - back up to 3rd after 4 out - hit the front before 2 out - overtaken turning into the straight - never able to trouble winner from the last - held on unchallenged for second
Eoghan Finegan (5)
Gerard Keane
Settled in the pack early - dropped to 9th before rallying approaching 2 out - up to 4th and driven out after the last - stayed on into 3rd but no further impact
Simon Torrens
Liz Doyle
Sat close up early - dropped to 6th then 8th through mid-race - pushed along approaching last - held on steadily to finish 4th
Michael Kenneally (5)
Terence O'Brien
Held up at the back - still down in 18th at the 8th - progress made before 2 out to 6th - stayed on at one gait to finish 5th
Harry Sexton (7)
Eoin Doyle
Handy early - faded to 11th after the 7th - rallied approaching 2 out - up to 3rd soon after - unable to threaten on the run-in and faded late to finish 6th
Daniel King
George Stanley
Held up at the back - still 19th passing the 8th - improved position approaching the last two furlongs - stayed on to the line without threatening the front
Josh Williamson (3)
Gordon Elliott
Settled early with leaders - improved into contention after 5th - dropped to 8th after 7th - progressed again before 9th - up to 4th passing 4 out - pushed along in 5th after 2 out and faded on the run-in
Thomas O'Connor (7)
Dermot A McLoughlin
Settled handy early - dropped to rear of pack by 7th - improved into 7th approaching 2 out - moved up into contention last - held no more late on and beaten well into 9th
Kevin Healy (7)
Simon Cavanagh
Started towards the back - error at the 5th - down in 16th by the 8th after briefly closing on the pack early - found some late improvement approaching 3 out - lost ground close home to finish well beaten
Danny Gilligan
Cian Collins
Held up towards the back - still off the pace after 2f - blundered at the 6th - stuck around 14th before improving to 8th - unable to threaten and lost touch before the last
Conor Stone-Walsh
Gavin Cromwell
Went in front by a whisker early - overtaken approaching second and settled second by the 7th - dropped back before two out - faded from there to finish well beaten in 12th
Peter Smithers (5)
David Harry Kelly
Handy early - hit front before 2nd and stretched clear before 3rd - margin narrowed before 3 out - overtaken and slipped back before 2 out - faded from there to finish well beaten
John Aherne (7)
John Patrick Ryan
Held up early - still towards the back after the 9th - lost touch after 3 out and beaten well before the finish
Donagh Meyler
Ian Patrick Donoghue
Held up towards the back - drifted right at the opening fence - made progress into contention before the 2nd - up to 4th by the 7th after a minor error - briefly 3rd - faded to 6th before the 9th - slipped back before three out - stopped quickly and pulled up before two out
Liam McKenna (3)
Martin Hassett
Held up at the back - briefly improved into 8th before fading turning for two out - eased down and pulled up before the final fence
Darragh O'Keeffe
Andrew McNamara
Settled midfield early - moved through the pack before fading badly approaching two out - pulled up shortly after
Alan O'Sullivan (5)
Michael Barry
Held up at the back - improved from 15th to 8th - dropped away before 2 out and eased down before the last
Phillip Enright
Sean Aherne
Handy early - slipped back through field after 7th - briefly rallied after 3 out - faded and pulled up before last
Non-runners: Kilkee Bay, Lucky This Time, Ranger Billy, Trackman Tommy
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.