rear of mid-division, mistake 5th, never a factor
chased leaders, pushed along approaching straight, 5th 2 out and no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace
held up and took keen hold, good headway to challenge 3 out, led briefly approaching next where headed, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace
settled in mid-division, good headway approaching straight and challenged before 2 out where led, kept on well run-in
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, driven along approaching straight and soon no extra, moderate 8th when blundered last
mid-division on outer, 10th approaching straight, kept on one pace from 2 out without troubling leaders
always towards rear, never a factor
tracked leaders mainly 3rd, headway to lead 4 out, strongly pressed early straight and dropped to 3rd before 2 out, no extra
prominent and tracked leader in 2nd, driven along 5 out and weakened after next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
always rear, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, no extra approaching straight, weakened
led, headed 9th, ridden 5 out and weakened from next, behind when pulled up before 2 out
always rear, mistake 7th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division on inner, headway 4 out and 3rd approaching next, no impression in 4th when mistake 2 out, no extra
towards rear, some headway to track leaders briefly approaching straight, no extra after 3 out, weakened
rear of mid-division, raced keenly and headway on outer before halfway, led 9th until headed 4 out, ridden early straight and no extra in 6th 2 out
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in 5th early straight, no extra before 2 out
Carsonstown Boy won this last year but is unlikely to repeat the process against some high-class young hunters. Tammys Hill had the advantage of race fitness when beating SALSIFY at Wexford three weeks ago and is undoubtedly a very useful performer in this sphere but the runner-up, who landed the Foxhunter at Cheltenham and a top-class event at Stratford in June, can reverse the form with that run under his belt. Merchant Royal was a long way behind in third and hasn't done as well as expected after a bright start but Slippers Percy beat Tammys Hill narrowly at Loughanmore last month so is an obvious threat. Not Before Eight also holds a narrow advantage over Tammys Hill on their run at Downpatrick a year ago but the latter has made better progress.
Good Egg (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Ww, b mstk 7th, some prog bhnd but no dngr, 4th of 13, 22l behind Near Perfection (12-0) at Lisronagh 3m ire ptp hvy.
Merchant Royal (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Waited with, went moderate 5th 3 out, no impression under pressure in 4th approaching straight, kept on, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Tammys Hill (11-7) at Wexford 2m 6f hnt chs.
Salsify (IRE) Evensfav (11-11) Waited with, headway to chase leaders from 6 out, moderate 3rd 3 out, closed from before next, soon challenged and every chance, no impression from before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Tammys Hill (11-7) at Wexford 2m 6f hnt chs.
Tammys Hill (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, off the pace, jumped left and not fluent 4 out, closed from before 2 out, soon led and pressed, stayed on best from before last, won at Wexford 2m 6f hnt chs beating Salsify (11-11) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Carsonstown Boy (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Mid div, not go with ldrs 3out, ko onepce bhnd, 4th of 14, 22l behind Slippers Percy (11-4) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy in Nov.
Long Strand (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Alw pr, disp 3out, went on bef last, row, won at Lingstown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov beating O'Muircheartaigh (11-4) by 20l, 11 ran.
Not Before Eight (IRE) 4-5 (12-0) Tr ldrs, rdn bef 3out, lft cl 2nd 2out, not get to wnr, ko, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Nipper John (12-0) at Oldcastle 3m ire ptp gs in Apr.
Slippers Percy (IRE) 1-3 (11-4) Cl up & disp, disp from 4out, better jump 2out, easily, won at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy beating Mister Philson (12-0) by 15l, 8 ran.
Viking Splash (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) Rcd 2nd, rddn by 4th, 2l 2nd when mstk 3out, wknd 4th 2out until sl prog in 3rd bef last, no ex, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Oscar Delta (11-4) at Ballindenisk 3m ire ptp hvy.
Bank Guarantee (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Rcd 3rd/4th, rdn bhnd ldrs 3out, rdn & not qckn 2out, wknd & fell last, in a race won by Scilly Isles (11-7) at Maralin 3m ire ptp sft in Oct '09, 9 ran.
Crude (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Mid div, gd prog bef 5out, went on 3out, row, won at Lisronagh 3m ire ptp hvy beating Rev Counter (12-0) by 8l, 14 ran.
Harps Counsel (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Pr til wknd 6out, rr & pu 4out, in a race won by Send For Paddy (11-4) at Kirkistown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Royal Chukka (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Ww in rr, ok 4th 2out, 3rd brfly, ko onepce, 4th of 8, 33l behind Slippers Percy (11-4) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy.
Send For Paddy (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Pr, rdn in mod 3rd & lft 2nd 2out, ld last, v tired, all out, won at Kirkistown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov beating Strongpoint (12-0) by 4l, 10 ran.
Strongpoint (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Pr & ld, j right, hdd bef 3out, sn lft ld, hdd bef last, no ex late, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Send For Paddy (11-4) at Kirkistown 3m ire ptp sft in Nov.
Taghnabrick (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Chsd ldrs, lst pl after slow jmp 4out,sn pu, in a race won by Most Chaste (11-9) at Ballydarragh 3m ire ptp gs, 10 ran.
Writers Block (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Pr & ld, wknd 3out, sn bhnd, pu bef last, in a race won by Goonyella (11-4) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy, 13 ran.
