King Crisps Novice H´cap H´dle (Rated 81-123) of €22,500.00 4-y-o plus 2m.

1st - €14,647.50, 2nd - €4,500.00, 3rd - €2,250.00, 4th - €900.00 17 Ran

The handicapper will be pleased with his days work here after the first four home were separated by little over two and a half lengths. Favourite Northern Alliance, Follow The Plan, Boleybawn Quikstar and Enter The Indian were all in contention jumping the last with the latter just holding off the market leader by a head.

It is now three wins from four starts since early February for this four-year-old by Indian Rocket and it may be suggested now that he will be fully exposed after this latest win but he had to battle hard to land the honours and the manner in which he did that was certainly very encouraging.

Northern Alliance was unfortunate in that he failed to get the gaps at vital times. Ruby Walsh had an opening up the rail closed on him by Follow The Plan, and the same horse didn't help his case when he was later switched wider.

Oliver McKiernan's Follow The Plan was subject of a severe improvement of form when winning at Thurles at the beginning of the month and while he ran creditably here he may have just found it a bit sharp over two-miles in his first handicap.

Boleybawn Quikstar was reverting back to the smaller obstacles on this occasion and he failed to blot his copybook over fences and ran a good race here but just managed to bump into a couple too good. Be it over hurdles or fences he should be winning again soon.

Shanballa closed the gap on the form with Enter The Indian and he is starting to build up winning credentials, a further trip may be right up his alley. Back On The Road was well supported before the off and was sent off in front early doors by Paul Carberry before fading rapidly and finishing a very moderate 15th. Carberry reported to the stewards secretary that his mount heaved in the latter stages.