rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out
prominent, led 3rd to 5th, ridden in 5th 3 out, no extra from next
tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, went close 2nd when bad mistake next, not recover and dropped to 5th run-in
always towards rear
tracked leaders, close enough in 6th when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
mid-division, 7th 4 out, no impression from next
always behind, bad mistake 3 out
always towards rear
tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, close 3rd when badly hampered 2 out, ridden in 4th at last, kept on well run-in
mid-division, progress on outer from 4 out, 6th next, 5th and ridden 2 out, went moderate 2nd at last, kept on run-in
made most, blundered badly at 3rd and headed, regained lead at 5th, strongly pressed and ridden 2 out, stayed on well from last
tracked leaders, went 2nd briefly 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next
This looks a potentially informative beginners' chase as Ted Dolly and Special Tiara both come here off the back of comfortable wins in maiden hurdles. The former at Cork and the latter at Kilbeggan. Take A Shot will have learned plenty from his chasing bow at Killarney while Plan A has to go on the short-list on his fencing debut as he's won four times over the smaller obstacles and has finished fourth in both the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Galway Hurdle this year. MICKELSON was only headed at the last over 2m4f at Kilbeggan earlier this month and would have finished closer but for being hampered on the run-in. Noel Meade's charge can put that experience to good use here though the four-year-old Argocat, last seen in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, is also worth bearing in mind for future reference.
Ballyfinboy (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up early, 3rd from 3rd, 4th 4 out, dropped to rear 3 out, ridden and no impression when left 4th last, weakened, 4th of 5, 40l behind Imperial Shabra (10-13) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs sft.
Ballylibert (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 6 out, no extra next, weakened and completely tailed off, 5th of 12, well behind Back In Focus (11-12) at Listowel 2m 6f beg chs hvy.
Mickelson (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Led, ridden and strongly pressed from 2 out, headed last, 3rd when short of room and checked run-in, no extra, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Sicilian Secret (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f beg chs gd.
Steel Park (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders in moderate 3rd, kept on same pace under pressure from before 2 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Sweet My Lord (11-12) at Tramore 2m beg chs hvy in Aug.
Take A Shot (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and no extra after 4 out, 11th of 15, 31l behind House Rules (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f beg chs sft in Aug.
Ted Dolly (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 3 out, jumped into lead 2 out, asserted before last, kept on well, won at Cork 2m mdn hdl in Aug beating Pique Sous (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 23 ran.
The Ballacolla Man (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra before 3 out, 9th of 11, well behind Baresi (11-7) at Roscommon 2m 5f beg chs sft in Aug.
Valley Of Thrushes (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, went moderate 6th approaching straight, kept on without threatening under pressure, 6th of 15, 22l behind Baily Rock (11-12) at Wexford 2m 3f beg chase in Apr '11.
Acapulco Gold (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, 4th approaching 6 out, no extra 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Catcherinscratcher (11-5) at Tipperary 2m 4f beg chase sft in Jun.
Bridgets Pet (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden and no extra before 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last, in a race won by Marasonnien (11-10) at Punchestown 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Apr, 12 ran.
Merrydown Vintage (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fair Dilemma (11-9) at Listowel 2m 4f beg chs sft, 13 ran.
Plan A (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, 8th halfway, smooth headway to challenge approaching last, ridden and no extra run-in, 4th of 20, 7l behind Rebel Fitz (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft in Aug.
Special Tiara 11-8fav (11-4) Made all, pushed along and went clear from 3 out, stayed on well from last, comfortably, won at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl in Jul beating Tobar Na Gaoise (11-6) by 5l, 14 ran.
Argocat (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, never going pace to get on terms, 9th of 24, 13l behind Une Artiste (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Saoirse Dun (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Soon well off the pace in rear, went moderate 4th approaching 3 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 43l behind Twinlight (11-10) at Listowel 2m 1f beg chs hvy.
Boxer Beat (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Slight mistake 1st, tracked leaders, 4th before 3 out, lost place and no impression straight, 8th of 12, 11l behind Mackey Boy (10-7) at Listowel 2m Handicap Hurdle (80-109) (5yo+) hvy.
Somethingdifferent (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Settled in chasing pack, moderate 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra after 4 out, 7th of 11, 36l behind Face Facts (11-2) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens16 in Aug.
Why But Why (USA) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th and no impression home bend, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 16l behind Whatever It Takes (10-5) at Ballinrobe 2m 4yo hcp hdl in Aug.
