chased leaders, squeezed along at stages, challenged in 2nd 2 out, hampered and switched before last, kept on without getting to winner run-in
tracked leaders, 2nd approaching straight, slipped on landing 3 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
tracked leader, gained narrow lead from 6 out, joined 3 out, soon headed and no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
led, not always fluent jumping and reminders 5th, narrowly headed from 6 out, weakened from before straight
waited with, closer in 3rd before straight, challenged and on terms 3 out, soon led, jumped left last, stayed on well under pressure run-in
soon behind, tailed off
BEST SERVED COLD was beaten 10 lengths by today's rival Daring Article in a bumper in October but appears to have made slightly the better start over hurdles and there was plenty to like about his victory at Wexford last time. He can reverse the form with Robert Tyner's charge here but Farrells Fancy and Corbally Ghost look threats. The former did very well to win over the minimum trip at Tipperary before a better run when stepped up to this C&D, finishing runner-up to Sword Of Destiny in a Grade 3. Corbally Ghost is making good progress but will need to step up on his recent victory over 2m4f at Punchestown where he defied a bad mistake at the last.
Best Served Cold 13-8fav (11-12) Waited with, closer order to track leaders from before 5 out, led after 2 out, pressed and almost joined last, stayed on best to assert run-in, won at Wexford 3m nh nov hdl sft in Oct beating Pickapocketortwo (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Daring Article (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, led soon after halfway, ridden after 2 out and kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Cork 2m 4f mdn hdl in Nov beating Felix Yonger (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Farrells Fancy (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Raced in 2nd, led before straight, strongly pressed when slight mistake 3 out, soon headed and no impression, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Sword Of Destiny (11-0) at Cork 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Florida Express (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, close up in 9th halfway, ridden in 8th after 3 out, soon no impression and moderate 7th when fell last, in a race won by Smoking Aces (10-7) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs 0-140 sft, 16 ran.
Corbally Ghost (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Made virtually all, strongly pressed entering straight, kept on well under pressure when bad mistake and edged left last, briefly headed, rallied gamely to regain advantage closing stages, won at Punchestown 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl sft in Nov beating Midnight Game (11-7) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Days Of Glory (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Towards rear, not fluent 6th, progress into 5th before straight, no impression under pressure 2 out, kept on well without threatening run-in, 3rd of 20, 2l behind Micks (10-8) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Nov.
