chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress 6th and led approaching 3 out, pushed along and headed last, no impression on winner run-in
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 4th 2 out, progress to lead last, kept on well run-in and clear final 100 yards, comfortably
towards rear, 6th halfway, progress into 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression in 4th before last, no extra
prominent, 2nd halfway, 3rd 2 out, no impression before last, no extra run-in
always rear, never a factor, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, detached 4 out, weakened, completely tailed off
led before 1st, headed approaching 3 out, soon no extra, weakened, completely tailed off
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra in 7th approaching 3 out, weakened, completely tailed off
chased leaders, 7th halfway, no impression in 6th before 3 out, weakened, tailed off
Court Frontier will probably start a short price here but he's not one to have the mortgage on judging by his latest run. He arrived at Clonmel for a maiden event having scored twice between the flags but was reluctant to get going until well past halfway then finished very strongly. He should win this on that form but JAMES is more reliable and gets the verdict for that reason. He has a course and distance victory to his credit and has generally competed at a much higher level, including behind the exciting Oscar Barton and the very useful hunter On The Fringe at Down Royal last time. Winning point-to-pointer Der Kaiser showed ability over hurdles but hasn't run for over a year while Ballyadam Dancer hasn't won between the flags for some time, though she ran well behind the odds-on Final Gift at Cragmore last month.
James (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Chased leaders early, mid-division before halfway, progress into 7th at 11th, close up 4 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no impression on leaders before next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 16, 31l behind Oscar Barton (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 6f hts chs sft in Dec.
Court Frontier (IRE) 6-4fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 11th 3 out, ridden in 10th and no impression before straight, stayed on in 7th approaching 2 out, moderate 3rd after 2 out, left 2nd last, kept on run-in, just held close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Jack Aboo (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 5f hts chs in Feb.
Der Kaiser (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Soon mid-division, progress into 5th before 3 out, improved to 2nd before 2 out, ridden 2 out, soon no impression winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 18, 6l behind Man With Van (11-1) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Dec '13.
Illusion Of Time (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Tr ldrs, rdn in 4th 2out, sn no impress, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Mr Bolt (12-2) at Tyrella 3m ire ptp gd in Jan.
Inchivara (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Rr, 8th 1/2way, wknd & held bef 3out, ko onepcd bhnd, 9th of 13, 48l behind Paper Lantern (12-2) at Cragmore 3m ire ptp gs in Feb.
Mourne Paddy (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Rcd 2nd, not qckn 3out, sn 4th, ko onepce, 4th of 8, 27l behind Muirhead (12-2) at Kirkistown 3m ire ptp gs in Feb.
Ballyadam Dancer (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Chsd ldrs, 1l adv 1/2way, hdd bef 2out, sn no chance with easy wnr, ko flat, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Final Gift (12-2) at Cragmore 3m ire ptp gs in Feb.
Taboo (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Mid div, prog to cl 5th 5out, not qckn 3out but ko onepce, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Monbeg Rose (11-11) at Tyrella 3m ire ptp gd in Jan.