tracked leader in 2nd, led before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, soon clear travelling well, slight mistake 2 out, well clear at last, stayed on strongly run-in, very easily
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along in moderate 5th before 2 out, soon ridden, no impression in 5th when mistake at last
towards rear, mistake and unseated rider at 3rd
always towards rear, hampered and rider briefly lost iron at 3rd, never a factor
jinked right at start and slowly away, always behind, ran out approaching 3 out
rear of mid-division on inner, headway into close 4th on outer when bad mistake 3 out, soon moderate 4th, went moderate 3rd and ridden 2 out, moderate 3rd at last, 3rd when checked inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, not trouble winner
tracked leaders, 2nd and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, dropped to moderate 4th 2 out, soon no impression
mid-division, weakened after halfway, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders on inner, slight mistakes 1st and 6th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no impression on winner in 2nd 2 out, moderate 2nd at last, drifted right inside final furlong, dropped to 3rd close home
Joseph O'Brien's A Wave Of The Sea is penalised for a battling victory at Punchestown where he didn't jump with any fluency. He'll need to do better here as Leahman won by 33l at Gowran when landing a touch. The latter clearly benefited from trouble in behind but was obviously expected to improve greatly on his previous two runs. Colfer Me, another from the O'Brien yard, was beaten 12l when runner-up at Ballinrobe having finished 6l behind Laura Bullion here earlier but the latter was 8l behind Wave Of The Sea at Punchestown. Khanmurjan showed potential on the Flat for William Haggas and made a very promising hurdling debut when just failing to concede Laura Bullion 7lb here in August but the vote goes to Gordon Elliott's French recruit SAINT D'OROUX, narrowly beaten in his only start for the Macaire yard in May.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 4-5fav (10-8) Disputed lead early, not fluent at 1st, led from 2nd, ridden and strongly pressed entering straight, headed at last, rallied well on inner inside final furlong, stayed on well to regain lead close home, won at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Oct beating Cerberus (10-8) by nk, 13 ran.
Leahman 6-1 (10-8) Disputed, led from 1st, asserted after 4 out, clear next, left well clear 2 out, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m gd in Oct beating Majority Share (10-1) by 33l, 16 ran.
Anycity (IRE) (9-1) 2nd of 9, nk behind Viomenil (9-1) at Lyon La Soie 1m 3f stks pol in Feb.
Ballydrislane (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Soon mid-division, pushed along after halfway, kept on same pace from 2f out, 9th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Istoria (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn sft in Sep.
Colfer Me (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Led, ridden over 1 1/2f out, drifted left over 1f out, headed final 200 yards, soon no extra, 8th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Heliac (8-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Oct.
It's All Gucci 33-1 (9-2) Dwelt, always behind, hung left to far rail and eased well over 1f out, 10th of 12, 34 1/2l behind Red Hot (8-11) at Newcastle 1m stks (5) pol in Dec.
Khanmurjan (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Waited with and towards rear early, slight mistake 4th, pushed along and progress to track leaders approaching 2 out, kept on well without reaching winner run-in, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Laura Bullion (10-5) at Down Royal 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Saint D'Oroux (FR) (10-3) 2nd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Resplendor (10-3) at Dieppe 2m gs in May.
Slainte (IRE) 50-1 (8-5) Rear of mid-division, ridden early straight and no extra in rear over 2f out, eased final furlong, 22nd of 23, dist behind Bear Claws (9-1) at Navan 1m 2f hcp sft in Oct.
Laura Bullion (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, headway into 4th and ridden next, moderate 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 13, 8 1/4l behind A Wave Of The Sea (10-8) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Oct.
