towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway 6 out, soon no extra, pulled up before 3 out
never better than mid-division
mid-division, closed to chase leaders approaching 4 out, moderate 4th and no impression approaching last, kept on same pace
waited with, closer in 5th before straight, 3rd 3 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace approaching last
tracked leaders, slight mistake 7th, no extra approaching 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, 4th 3 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
led, mistake 3rd, joined approaching 4 out, headed and weakened straight
chased leaders, closer in 2nd 3 out, soon challenged, gained narrow lead last, joined run-in, stayed on best to edge ahead again close home
tracked leaders, improved to be on terms 5 out, bad mistake and unseated rider next
always prominent, on terms before straight, led 3 out, narrowly headed last, on terms again and every chance run-in, kept on same pace and headed close home
towards rear, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening straight
waited with, closer in 6th before straight, kept on same pace under pressure from before 2 out
prominent, bad mistake and unseated rider 10th
close up, 3rd approaching 4 out, no extra straight
Streets Of Gold won this a year ago and is just 4lb higher. He ran a little better a couple of weeks ago and looks to have been primed for this. Smoking Aces has never won over fences but reappeared with a cracking run behind Burnt Oil Babe at Punchestown and looks on a fair mark. For A Finish generally jumps and stays well and was badly impeded at the first when unshipping his rider last time but Indifference Curve has been climbing the weights without winning. The Bishop Looney appeared to enjoy dropping back to 2m1f at Galway though further rain would aid his cause as he's a real mudlark. Elysian Rock will have needed last month's run at Limerick while Lion Na Bearnai made all and galloped on to a battling success in a bunch finish at Punchestown in May. SOMATIC looks quite well in here as he had a length to spare when beating Goban Saor at Wexford in June and that one is now rated 9lb higher than Tony Martin's charge, who gets the nod.
Jadanli (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Settled in 3rd, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened entering straight, last of 3, 47l behind Roi Du Mee (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 7f chs Grade 3 (1) in Oct.
Elysian Rock 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, keen hold, 2nd before straight, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before last, 4th of 15, 16l behind Muirhead (11-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs in Oct.
For A Finish 12-1 (10-11) Badly hampered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Muirhead (11-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs in Oct, 15 ran.
Indifference Curve (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Mid-division, 10th 5 out, closer in 4th approaching 2 out, moderate 3rd and no impression from before straight, kept on same pace, 2nd of 19, 7l behind Tharawaat (11-10) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct.
Tinakellylad (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Prominent, 3rd 5 out, no extra approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Tharawaat (11-10) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct, 19 ran.
Streets Of Gold (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Towards rear, some headway approaching 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 7th of 20, 18l behind Viaduct Joey (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Oct.
Noble Concorde 20-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, weakened 5 out, tailed off approaching 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Minella Four Star (9-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
The Bishop Looney (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, a bit slow 3rd, 4th when a bit slow 4 out, ridden and closed into 2nd into straight, soon challenged, on terms final furlong, led and stayed on best closing stages, drew on near finish, won at Galway 2m 1f hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Oct beating An Blascaoid Mor (9-10) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Tullintain (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Towards rear, closer in 9th 5 out, 6th approaching 2 out, no extra and pulled up after last, in a race won by Tharawaat (11-10) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct, 19 ran.
Another Palm (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Towards rear for most, never a factor, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind King's Parade (9-13) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl in Oct.
Droim Toll (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Towards rear for most, never a factor, pulled up after last, in a race won by Tharawaat (11-10) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct, 19 ran.
Smoking Aces (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, not jump fluently, 10th entering straight, moderate 5th last, stayed on strongly closing stages, not reach winner, 3rd of 17, 1l behind Burnt Oil Babe (10-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 in Oct.
Baizically (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Reduced visibility, tracked leaders, no extra approaching 3 out, 6th of 7, 25l behind Blazing Beacon (10-12) at Wexford 2m 6f chs sft in Oct.
Lion Na Bearnai (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Soon led and disputed, chased winner from 7th, closed 7 out, soon led, joined approaching last, soon asserted, no extra and holding on near finish, won at Punchestown 3m 1f Conditional Handicap Chase (0-123) (4yo+) in May beating Sang Bleu (11-2) by nk, 20 ran.
Somatic (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Waited with, closer in 4th approaching straight, kept on same pace from before 2 out, 4th of 6, 13l behind Serve Time (11-2) at Limerick 2m 6f nov chs gd in Jul.