in rear, behind 13th, headway after 2 out, never on terms with leaders, no impression flat
behind, slow 1st, some headway 20th, closed to take 4th before 2 out, no impression from last, weakened
chased leaders, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on well final 100 yards, took 3rd close home
not always fluent towards rear, last 14th, tailed off 4 out
held up, not fluent 4th, never in contention, well beaten 4 out
mid-division, closed 5th, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged next, edged left and driven flat, led towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place 6 out, soon behind
tracked leader, led 9 out, headed before mistake 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 21st, close 4th 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, ridden flat, unable to challenge, lost 3rd close home
led until 9 out, led again before 3 out, hard pressed from 2 out, stayed on, headed towards finish
held up, mistake 21st, not fluent 8 out, in 3rd last position when blundered and unseated rider 6 out
Some familiar faces in the starting line-up for this cross-country race, including last year’s winner Bless The Wings who will be 14 in a few weeks’ time. In a similar race here four weeks ago, however, he was well behind JOSIES ORDERS and Fact Of The Matter, who finished first and second. The latter has every chance of reversing that form on today’s terms but Enda Bolger is a past master at preparing his charges for races like this so Mark Walsh’s mount is taken to come out on top again. Bolger also runs Punchestown winner My Hometown but Amazing Comedy looks a bigger danger. He has smart form in his native France and ran well on his only previous outing over these fences. Wounded Warrior could go well at a price but Full Cry is hard to predict and Ballycasey is not the force of old.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent 21st, headed approaching 6 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 7, 20 1/2l behind Josies Orders (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Ballycasey (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Always last, trailing from 5th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, last of 4, 26 1/2l behind Sub Lieutenant (11-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) gd in Oct.
Josies Orders (IRE) 2-1fav (10-11) Pressed leader, led approaching 6 out, driven and headed narrowly after last, ridden to regain lead flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Fact Of The Matter (10-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Wounded Warrior (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, under pressure 10th, one pace from before 2 out, 6th of 10, 33 1/4l behind Sub Lieutenant (11-3) at Galway 2m 7f gd in Aug.
Full Cry (IRE) 2-1fav (11-9) Mid-division early, soon towards rear, 8th at 6th, slight mistake 12th, closer order when mistake and unseated rider 16th, at Punchestown 3m gf in Nov.
Fact Of The Matter (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway to join leaders when went wide 6 out, went 2nd 3 out, led narrowly after last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Josies Orders (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Led, mistake 2nd, headed and looked beaten when fell 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Bay Of Freedom (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) In touch, outpaced 5 out, ridden before 2 out, never on terms, weakened before last, last of 7, 28 1/2l behind Josies Orders (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Amazing Comedy (FR) (10-10) won at Compiegne 3m 3f gd in Nov beating Virtus D'Estruval (11-4) by 18l, 9 ran.
My Hometown (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Made all, went on from 2 out, good jump last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m gf in Nov beating Mtada Supreme (11-9) by 16l, 10 ran.
Vol Noir De Kerser (FR) (11-0) 4th of 9, 18 1/4l behind Amazing Comedy (10-10) at Compiegne 3m 3f gd in Nov.
