LEOPARDSTOWN (05 Mar 2006)

Yielding To Soft

4:45 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Chase (5yo+)

[off 4:45] £11,673.10, £3,424.83, £1,631.72, £555.86 14 fences 2m5f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 In Compliance M J P O´Brien 6 11-12 B J Geraghty 4/6F 132 140+

2 20 Kerryhead Windfarm Michael Hourigan 8 11-12 Andrew J McNamara 9/1 111 110

3 2 Randwick Roar P M J Doyle 7 11-12 P Carberry 14/1 114 109 108

4 4½ Macs Flamingo P A Fahy 6 11-12 C O´Dwyer 14/1 123 105 104

5 dist Lordofourown S Donohoe 8 11-12 D N Russell 9/2 — 125

F Brutto Facie Mrs John Harrington 7 11-12 R Walsh 5/1 — 126

PU Present Company Michael C Connell 8 11-1 P W Flood 66/1 — —

7 ran TIME 5m 35.70s (slow by 18.70s) TOTAL SP 119%

1st OWNER: S Mulryan BRED: Pashcal Freenan TRAINER: M J P O'Brien

2nd OWNER: James R Browne

3rd OWNER: Mrs Jacqueline Costello

TOTE WIN £1.60 PL £1.20, £2.90; Ex £7.50; CSF £8.68

ANALYSIS: A bloodless win for IN COMPLIANCE, reappearing just eight days his winning chasing debut at Fairyhouse. He was already firmly in control when the pursuing Brutto Facie fell at the last, bringing down Lordofourown. The winner travelled well throughout, and while he showed a slight tendency to jump to the right, it was notable how effectively he settled, since it was a difficulty in getting him properly relaxed that delayed his seasonal debut.

He can be rated a horse of major potential, and it was no surprise when Michael O'Brien immediately ruled him out of the Arkle. He said: "Realistically he would have needed to have been out by Christmas in order to run in the Arkle, and he has now had two races in quick succession. The plan now will be to run in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, and if all goes well I will train him as a Gold Cup horse next season".

Brutto Facie was booked for second until making his exit, a fair effort in a stronger race than the Gowran event in which he opened his chasing account, and Lordofourown, reappearing just a week after winning at Naas, would have finished third. He was remounted to finish last.

Kerryhead Windfarm looked completely out of contention by the end of the back straight but stayed on again to finish a remote second after the last-fence drama.