tracked leaders, 5th halfway, improved into 2nd before 3 out, led approaching straight, joined and mistake 2 out, edged left before last, narrow advantage run-in, kept on best under pressure, demoted to 2nd
always prominent, 4th halfway, mistake 3 out, driven along and no impression in 3rd 2 out, no extra when not fluent last
led, pressed from 3 out, headed approaching straight, soon no extra
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, went 3rd 3 out, headway travelling best to dispute 2 out where mistake, soon ridden, slightly hampered before last, narrowly headed on run-in, kept on same pace under pressure, awarded race
chased leaders, 8th halfway, went 5th approaching straight, 4th 2 out, soon no extra, kept on same pace
mid-division, 9th halfway, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, dropped to 6th 3 out, soon weakened
never a factor
rear of mid-division, some headway on outer halfway, moderate 7th entering straight, kept on one pace
never better than mid-division, kept on one pace from 3 out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, no extra from 3 out, weakened
always towards rear, eased when beaten after 3 out
in rear, reminders after 3rd, some headway 3 out, moderate 8th next, kept on same pace
mistake and unseated rider 1st
in rear, never a factor, kept on one pace from 3 out
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, dropped to 4th before 3 out, soon no extra, weakened
rear of mid-division, some headway into 9th 3 out, moderate 5th 2 out, no extra
BIG GAME HUNTER is comfortably the pick on form and should lose his maiden tag despite a lay-off. Mouse Morris' charge ran an excellent third behind Pittoni in Leopardstown's Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle in February and ended the campaign with a narrow defeat by Fingal Rock in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse in April. Winning point-to-pointer and bumper Smokey Joe Joe has a fitness advantage after scoring at Bellewstown last month but High Magic may prove a bigger threat as he made a very promising hurdling debut when just touched off by Makhaaleb at Down Royal with the much more experienced Blue Ridge Lane behind.
Big Game Hunter (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Raced in 2nd, led after 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, 3rd when not fluent last, stayed on well again close home, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Fingal Rock (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 hvy in Apr.
Blue Ridge Lane (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Always behind, 12th of 15, well behind Sword Fish (9-11) at Listowel 2m 4yo hcp hdl gd.
Smokey Joe Joe (IRE) 4-6fav (11-9) Keen early, settled 3rd, 2nd from 5f out, led 2f out, ridden and kept on well, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f ldy N H flat gd in Aug beating Sobrando Lodge (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
High Magic (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 6th halfway, 7th before 2 out, 4th and headway before last, 2nd and challenged run-in, every chance, just failed, 2nd of 12, hd behind Makhaaleb (11-2) at Down Royal 2m 4yo mdn hdl gf in Aug.
Highland Brave (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Never a factor, 13th of 25, 38l behind Stanton Court (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl gd in May.
Kilnamoragh (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 15th of 17, well behind Paddy O Dee (11-4) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl sft in Jan.
Ladinsky (USA) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 15, 35l behind Dark Prospect (11-12) at Galway 2m 2f Maiden Hurdle (4-5yo) gf in Aug.
Laffan Island (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid div, 6th 1/2 way, mstk 9th, last 5out, bhd when fell next, in a race won by Master Milan (11-7) at Athlacca 3m ire ptp fm in May, 10 ran.
Macklycuddy (USA) 40-1 (11-7) Behind when unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Laughing Boy (11-7) at Listowel 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd, 18 ran.
Masked Phantom (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 10th of 18, 25l behind Laughing Boy (11-7) at Listowel 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd.
Regal Ambition (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, no extra from 3 out, 9th of 18, 22l behind Laughing Boy (11-7) at Listowel 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd.
Roman Arch (USA) 13-2 (9-5) Prominent, 3rd approaching halfway, ridden and weakened 4f out, behind straight, last of 13, 49l behind Miracle Steps (8-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f app hcp 47-65 pol in Nov (flat).
Street Hawk (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, 8th 4 out, no impression from next, 7th of 12, 32l behind Makhaaleb (11-2) at Down Royal 2m 4yo mdn hdl gf in Aug.
Dawn'll Doo (IRE) Sonus filly out of Dawn Infidel.
Derg Princess (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden in 12th and no impression before straight, kept on one pace, 11th of 16, 14l behind Earls Quarter (11-9) at Roscommon 2m N H flat gf in Aug.
Man Turk Lady (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, 12th of 16, 21l behind Dont Tell The Boys (11-2) at Listowel 2m 4yo nhf gd.
Venetian Dove (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Prominent, led briefly after 6 out, headed 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 16, 24l behind Schumpters Lad (11-1) at Wexford 2m 4f Maiden Hurdle (4-5yo) gd in Jun.
Coppers (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Prominent, 2nd at 4th, dropped to 7th after 4 out, no extra from next, 10th of 17, 32l behind Roseska (10-7) at Clonmel 2m 3yo mdn hdl gd in Sep '09.
Barred For Life (IRE) Curtain Time filly out of Mitsy.
Baraka Boy (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, lost place and no impression under pressure from 2 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 14, 18l behind Cabernet Sauvignon (11-2) at Ballinrobe 2m 4yo mdn hdl gd in Jun.
El Romo (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 9th of 15, 35l behind Dark Prospect (11-12) at Galway 2m 2f Maiden Hurdle (4-5yo) gf in Aug.