tracked leaders early, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along briefly 4th, not always fluent jumping after and soon in rear, no impression from 5 out and one pace
prominent, dropped to 12th after 11th, no danger towards rear when fell 5 out
waited with, 16th early, slight mistake 2nd, some headway when not fluent 6 out, kept on same pace straight
prominent, not fluent 4 out, on terms straight, headed from 2 out, kept on well without matching winner run-in
held up on inner and towards rear, 15th early, closed to chase leaders when bumped and fell 3 out
mid-division and 9th early, 6th after 11th, soon progress to track leaders, led from 2 out where slight mistake, stayed on well run-in
bumped with rival 1st, waited with, 18th early, some progress when slightly impeded 3 out and 2 out, one pace after
waited with, 13th early, some slight mistakes, pushed along approaching 7 out where not fluent, no impression from 5 out and one pace
bumped with rival 1st, waited with towards rear, improved into 8th after 11th, tracked leaders from 5 out, on terms 2 out where fell
waited with towards rear, bad mistake 1st, progress when not fluent and impeded 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, kept on well run-in without getting to front pair
waited with and 11th early, 10th after 11th, 7th approaching straight, soon effort and one pace 2 out
waited with, 17th early, slight mistake 7th, not always fluent jumping after, no impression from 5 out and one pace
soon led and a little keen, joined before 8th, soon headed and remained prominent, 5th approaching straight, soon switched left, bumped with rival 3 out and impeded, slightly impeded 2 out and one pace
prominent, 4th from early, not fluent 7 out and at next, impeded 2 out and one pace
tracked leaders and 5th early, on terms before 8th, soon led, joined straight, headed before 2 out where not fluent, no extra and one pace after
chased leaders and 8th early, 7th after 11th, not fluent 5 out, slight mistake 3 out, impeded 2 out and kept on same pace after
chased leaders and 7th early, slightly slow 6th, 5th after 11th, 8th approaching straight, soon switched right, impeded 2 out, one pace and slight mistake last
raced in 12th early, 14th after 11th, no impression approaching 4 out, no extra when not fluent 2 out and soon pulled up
mid-division and 10th early, 9th after 11th, closed up from 5 out, slight mistake next, impeded 3 out and 2 out, one pace and slight mistake last
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, slight mistake next and reminders after, 6th after 4th, not always fluent jumping, 11th after 11th, slightly impeded 2 out and one pace
Most of the usual staying suspects are out again including the veteran Raz De Maree, who has won this twice and created history when landing the postponed Welsh National at this advanced age in January. Gavin Crowell will have him ready though softer ground would aid his cause. Rogue Angel, a former Irish National winner, won the Midlands National at Kilbeggan in July but only after today's rival Timiyan was disqualified. He then ran an excellent third in the Kerry National at Listowel but is now 9lb higher than his last winning mark. Poormans Hill has been looking high in the weights since scoring at Downpatrick in March so a chance is taken with OIGHEAR DUBH. He was in the lead and looking a certain winner when ducking out on the run-in in an amateurs race at Cheltenham where he showed that a stamina test was required and Mark Enright takes over the reins. Minella Beau is still a novice and makes his handicap debut but wouldn't be running here unless thought capable of a big effort while The Gatechecker has been in fine form over hurdles and fences though he's better handicapped over the smaller obstacles.
Raz De Maree (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, 15th after 9th, detached before 10th, weakened before 2 out, never a factor, 12th of 16, dist behind Spider Web (9-11) at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Val De Ferbet (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Led, joined 2 out, led after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching straight, one paced run-in, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Sweet Home Chicago (11-6) at Galway 3m Yielding in Oct.
Forever Gold (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent and unseated rider 2nd, at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp sft in Apr.
Rogue Angel (IRE) 11-2 (10-5) Chased leader, 5th after 9th, niggled along after 3 out, no extra after 2 out, 6th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Spider Web (9-11) at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Minella Beau (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead from 3rd, headed after 7th, improved to dispute again from 5 out, headed before last and soon ridden, every chance from 1f out, not quicken and dropped to 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 4, 5 3/4l behind Woods Well (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f Yielding in Oct.
Out Sam 9-2fav (11-7) Held up, 9th after 8th, improved to chase leaders 14th, no impression from 2 out, kept on without threatening run-in into 3rd near finish, 3rd of 16, 11 1/2l behind Paper Lantern (10-11) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp hvy in Apr.
Timiyan (USA) 12-1 (10-2) Rear, mistake at 2nd, 12th after 9th, no impression before 2 out, ran on after last, never nearer, 7th of 16, 16 1/2l behind Spider Web (9-11) at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Poormans Hill (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Raced off pace towards rear, took closer order in 4th before 6th, slow jump at 9th, under pressure and detached after 3 out, kept on same pace, no threat, 4th of 5, 11 1/4l behind Tombstone (11-11) at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Oct.
Velocity Boy (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Led, slight mistake 2nd, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner when mistake at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Montalbano (11-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Sep.
The Gatechecker (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, 9th after 8th, good headway to 4th after 3 out, travelled well in 3rd 2 out, improved to lead before last, driven out, won at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct beating Offshore Oscar (10-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Draycott Place (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Raced in 4th, 5th at 3rd, no impression when a little slow 4 out, soon dropped to rear and no extra, 6th of 7, dist behind Penny Jane (10-5) at Cork 2m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
Major Destination (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 6th, pushed along in 2nd 3 out, ridden and led entering straight, drifted left and strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Justmemyselfandi (11-6) at Sligo 3m gd in Sep.
Justmemyselfandi (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led, pushed along and headed after 2 out, under pressure and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Judgement Day (11-7) at Gowran Park 3m 1f gd in Oct.
Oighear Dubh (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway on inside 12th, not fluent 14th, led before 2 out, untidy last, 3 lengths clear when ran out flat (went through tape dolling off run-in from rest of course), at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Nobody Home (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Rear, mistake at 1st, 8th at 8th, progress to 6th after 4 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and kept on after last to moderate 4th close home, never nearer, 4th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Tout Est Permis (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Oct.
Une Lavandiere (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, slightly slow 2nd, tight for room briefly after 3rd, 7th from 6th where slightly slow, slightly slow 12th, went 4th approaching 2 out, soon left in lead, just headed before last where fell, at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan.
Hugo 'n Taz 12-1 (11-12) Towards rear, closer in 4th after 7th, ridden after 3 out, no impression in 5th before 2 out, ridden in 4th after 2 out, mistake at last, one paced, 4th of 6, 13 1/4l behind Boot Camp (11-12) at Limerick 2m 6f gd in Oct.
Oscar Lantern (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, 7th at 8th, under pressure and weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, 23 3/4l behind The Gatechecker (12-0) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.
Sizing Rome (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-7) Towards rear, headway into mid-division halfway, went 5th 3 out, pushed along in 3rd 2 out, ridden to lead at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp gd in Oct beating Hitdroadjack (11-9) by 9l, 11 ran.
Georges Conn (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Led narrowly, headed at 6th, led after 7th, headed and dropped to 3rd before 8th, 4th at 9th, 5th after 4 out, ridden and headway to 3rd after last, one paced final furlong, 3rd of 9, 12 1/2l behind Tout Est Permis (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Oct.
