´Ireland By 10 Points´ M´dn H´dle of €12,000.00 4-y-o 2m.

1st - €8,292.00, 2nd - €2,040.00, 3rd - €960.00, 4th - €600.00 18 Ran

The market got it right here, as there wasn't anything particularly fancied against the form choice, FOR REAL. She made the running, was joined before the straight by Papa Bear, but a quick leap at the second last saw the French-bred soon pull clear and she launched herself at the last under Shane Jackson on the way to a comfortable enough three and a half length success.

Adrian Maguire said of the 6/4 favourite (from 9/4), ?she is very consistent but she was a bit disappointing at Navan the last day though we knew she was better than that. She'll jump a fence in time."

PAPA BEAR ran a cracker on his hurdling bow but the experience of the winner probably proved the deciding factor. Rated 75 on the level, he will surely only improve from here and it was no disgrace for him to flounder from after the penultimate jump, having taken a share of the lead from before the turn in.

With an official rating of 77, HOPEFUL CHOICE'S third-placing shows that this was very ordinary fare. However after this always prominent effort, she might have prospects in handicap company somewhere along the way.

Fourth-placed CRU certainly can do better in time. A ?35,000 yearling purchase by Highflyer Bloodstock, presumably this was always going to be her game and the fact that she is out of a Saddlers' Hall mare underlines this. A 73-rated flat performer, Davy Condon's mount wasn't going to win from well before the straight having been never too far off the gallop, but she kept going in pleasing enough fashion for fourth.

Others worthy of mention are PERFECT REWARD who now qualifies for a handicap mark, PERPETUUM and QUARTERMASTER. SPRING WINE (lame) was a non-runner.