chased leaders, moderate 3rd approaching straight, improved to lead before 2 out, strongly pressed from before last, soon joined and headed, kept on same pace run-in
disputed lead early, prominent, slight mistake 4th, dropped to 4th but still prominent when fell 2 out
chased leaders early, moderate 6th approaching 5 out, towards rear from 3 out, jumped badly left last 2, tailed off
in rear, pushed along 3rd, improved from before 4 out, soon chased leaders, 3rd at last, stayed on well run-in to lead on line
disputed lead early, chased leaders, dropped towards rear and no extra 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
soon mid-division, closer in moderate 4th approaching straight, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged from before last, soon on terms and led, kept on well run-in, headed on line
held up, moderate 6th approaching straight, closed from before 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before last
held up towards rear, no impression in moderate 7th approaching straight, kept on same pace
soon led, clear from before 5 out, not fluent 4 out, jumped left 3 out, reduced lead and headed before 2 out, 4th at last, no impression
Araglen Lad made all to score easily at Gowran, though his path was made clear when his main rival fell at the second last. He's been raised 8lb but will take some beating in that kind of form. NEW PHASE, four times a winner over hurdles where he's 20lb higher, has only run four times over fences but showed, with a fine effort behind Rubert here last time, that this should be within his capabilities. Castle Anshan is a much better hurdler than chaser while Whats On The Menu is better over much further. Georgie has struggled off his new mark since scoring at Galway in October and would prefer heavier ground.
New Phase (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Waited with in mid-division, improved to be prominent from before 5 out, went 3rd before next, not getting to winner from before last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Rubert (11-3) at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp chs in Nov.
Araglen Lad (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Soon led, not fluent 3rd, pressed straight, left clear 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 in Nov beating For A Finish (11-11) by 15l, 8 ran.
Whats On The Menu (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 5th, on terms 7th, led from next, headed 3 out, 4th and no extra approaching straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 11l behind Raajih (11-7) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f beg chs gd in Aug.
Mitebeall Forluck 80-1 (11-12) Chased leaders and 6th halfway, slight mistake 6th and mistake next, pushed along in 5th after 4 out, no extra in 6th before last, 6th of 8, 11l behind Gentleman Duke (11-12) at Thurles 2m beg chs gd in Nov.
Castle Anshan (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leader and 2nd halfway, 3rd when bumped by rival and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Musawama (11-7) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-109 gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Tellherimnothere (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders and 6th halfway, ridden and no extra after 9th, behind when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Musawama (11-7) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-109 gd in Nov, 10 ran.
Theroadtocroker (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened last, 7th of 11, 23l behind Balthazar King (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cntry chs (5yo+) (2) gd in Nov.
Georgie 5-1 (10-12) Held up, 9th entering straight, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 14, 30l behind Golden Ticket (11-5) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-109 in Nov.
Hellofado (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mistake 1st, always behind, hampered 4 out, weakened, 13th of 16, well behind The Paparrazi Kid (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs sft in Nov.
