Verdict

Inis Meain, who had been in such brilliant form on the Flat, was struggling when falling on his return to hurdles here a fortnight ago but shouldn't be written off just yet. That race was won by Abbey Lane from Rocky Wednesday, who looks to have been harshly treated with a 6lb rise. Rory Anna bounced back to form with a comfortable victory at Gowran but had earlier finished behind Tennis Cap at Naas. The latter had run disappointingly on this track earlier before making all for an impressive success though the assessor has had his say with a 12lb rise in the weights. Cass Bligh is a useful performer on his day though a long absence won't aid his cause in such a competitive affair and Discoteca has been struggling at the weights since completing a four-timer. Carrigmartin alternates between hurdles and fences and is better than he's shown recently but in a wide-open event it's Fred Winter runner-up EDEYMI, who bounced back to form with a victory on the Flat at Dundalk last month, who is handed the vote for Tony Martin.

Formwatch

Tennis Cap (FR) 3-1fav (11-1) Made all, 6 lengths lead from 2nd until reduced advantage after halfway, jumped right 2 out and soon ridden to assert, driven out and kept on well run-in, won at Naas 2m hcp hdl hvy in Jan beating Beneficial Spirit (9-7) by 6l, 11 ran.

Discoteca 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden into 5th entering straight, no impression in 3rd last, kept on same pace, 4th of 17, 5l behind Cairdin (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Dec.

Leah Claire (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Towards rear, no impression from 3 out, 11th of 28, 26l behind Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.

St Devote (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, closer in 4th halfway, left 2nd after 3 out, led next, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Roscommon 2m nov chs (1) sft in Sep '11 beating Nakajima Nate (11-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.

Loch Ard (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out, 19th of 28, well behind Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.

Edeymi (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Waited with, beaten when unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Prince De Beauchene (11-11) at Limerick 2m 3f hdl hvy in Dec, 6 ran.

Dul Ar An Ol (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Settled towards rear on outer, 9th halfway, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 8th of 11, 19l behind Tennis Cap (11-1) at Naas 2m hcp hdl hvy in Jan.

Inis Meain (USA) 5-1 (10-3) Mid-division, pushed along 3 out, no impression in 11th when fell next, in a race won by Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan, 28 ran.

Back To Balloo (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Soon chased leaders, no extra and kept on same pace from 2 out, 7th of 13, 30l behind Beef To The Heels (9-3) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 0-150 gs in Nov.

Cass Bligh (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, in front before 4 out where slight mistake, pressed and joined from before 2 out, headed and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind His Excellency (10-9) at Killarney 2m 1f beg chs gd in May.

Authinger (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, disputed lead briefly 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 8, 28l behind Speed Dial (9-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl hvy in Jan.

Silver Friend 33-1 (10-5) Mid-division on outer, 9th 2 out, soon no impression, 9th of 28, 12l behind Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.

Rocky Wednesday (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Towards rear, some progress into 14th 2 out, went 9th at last, stayed on well run-in to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 28, 2 1/2l behind Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.

Won In The Dark (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, moderate 5th halfway, ridden in 6th 4 out, no extra and weakened, 7th of 10, well behind Tarla (10-7) at Roscommon 2m 4f hdl in Aug.

Dont Tell Pa (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 10th 3 out, ridden in 8th approaching last, no extra, 10th of 16, 18l behind Supreme Carolina (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m hdl sft in Dec.

Rory Anna (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Mid-division on outer, 7th halfway, headway into 2nd before 3 out and led next, not fluent last but kept on well to draw clear run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 1f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (80-123) (4yo+) hvy in Jan beating Barneys Honour (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.

Carrigmartin (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) In rear, no impression from 4 out, 15th of 18, 33l behind Farrells Fancy (9-6) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs hvy in Jan.

Away We Go (IRE) 10-3fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, no extra from 3 out, weakened, 14th of 16, 36l behind Sherika (9-5) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Jan.

Decade Player (IRE) 50-1 (9-4) In rear, no impression from 3 out, 17th of 28, well behind Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.

Sarteano (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Badly hampered 1st, towards rear, struggling 4 out, mistake next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Muirhead (11-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs in Oct '11, 15 ran.

Sportsmaster (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Abbey Lane (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan, 28 ran.

Bombadero (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division best, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 26th of 30, well behind Prince Rudi (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.

Bay Of Kotor (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, 4th into straight, no extra from before 2 out, 6th of 8, well behind Matsukaze (10-9) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Dec.

Smithfield (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 4th before last, 3rd and no impression leaders last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 20, 9l behind Legal Exit (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hdl in Jan.