settled behind leaders early, led after 2nd, headed and mistake 6 out, soon dropped to 3rd, pushed along and no impression after 5 out, soon no extra
led, headed after 2nd and chased leader, led again 6 out, headed 3 out, no impression on winner before 2 out, soon no extra
soon settled 3rd, improved into 2nd 6 out, led 3 out, went clear before 2 out, easily
held up in rear, no impression from 5 out, soon no extra
Listen Dear had been running poorly before suddenly finding her form in a mares' Listed hurdle at Limerick where she made all on the heavy ground. She'll need to be back to her best over fences to take care of SHATTERED LOVE, whose close second to Min in the John Durkan at Punchestown in December is the stand-out recent form. The selection's stable companion Tintangle is unbeaten in two starts over fences and improving fast though she's taking on much stronger opposition here. Kupatana is a very interesting recruit for Henry De Bromhead. She would have completed a hat-trick of chase victories for Paul Nicholls in the spring but for falling at Ludlow and ended the campaign with a Listed success at Cheltenham. She didn't handle heavy going on her first start for new connections at Wexford and that run should be ignored.
Kupatana (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Led and clear, mistake at 8th, not fluent at 9th, reduced advantage at 10th, not fluent 3 out, headed approaching straight, weakened quickly, soon eased, last of 4, dist behind Champagne Classic (10-9) at Wexford 2m 7f lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Listen Dear (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Made all, clear at stages, asserted 2 out, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Limerick 2m 6f lst (1) hvy in Oct beating Well Set Up (10-10) by 8l, 8 ran.
Shattered Love (IRE) 9-4fav (10-10) Prominent early, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden entering straight, no impression from 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Oct.
Ballybrowney Walk (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, 5th halfway, went moderate 3rd 3 out and left 2nd next, no impression on easy winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, dist behind Agusta Gold (11-7) at Thurles 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Oct.
Tintangle (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Made all, slightly slow 1st, pressed from 5 out, ridden and hung left when strong pressed before 2 out, asserted after 2 out, hung badly left before last, kept on and drifted left run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 2f sft in Oct beating The Caddy Rose (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
