led, headed after 7f, 2nd halfway, pushed along 5f out, ridden in 6th 4f out, no extra entering straight, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, moderate 10th and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
towards rear early, mid-division halfway, swift headway into 3rd 7f out, 2nd 4f out, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out
chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra 4f out
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well to challenge 2f out and soon led, pushed out hands and heels final furlong, easily
mid-division, headway in 7th 3f out, ridden into 4th 2f out, 2nd and no impression winner 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden and no extra 5f out, weakened and tailed off
chased leaders, led after 7f, ridden and headed under 2f out, soon no extra
towards rear for most, never a factor
held up towards rear, moderate 9th and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
mid-division best, no extra 5f out, weakened and tailed off
mid-division, ridden in 8th and no impression 3f out, kept on one pace from 2f out
chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along over 3f out, ridden in 5th 2f out, under pressure in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong to 3rd close home
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace, lost 3rd close home
Not surprisingly given the race distance, many of these are better known under National Hunt Rules. Cairdin, who finished runner-up to Glam Gerry at Navan on his only start under Flat Rules. generally alternates between hurdles and fences and scored over the smaller obstacles at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting but PIQUE SOUS has won three bumpers and finished a close third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last year. He won easily over timber at Thurles when last seen in October and can take this before heading back to the Festival next month. Overcall showed promise over much shorter trips on the Flat before a poor hurdling debut at Leopardstown while the superbly-bred Somewhere should have no problems staying this far and will be better for her recent belated racecourse debut on this track. Dual bumper winner Raise The Beat looks best of the remainder.
Cairdin (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Led and disputed, strongly pressed from 2 1/2f out, headed under 2f out, rallied under pressure entering final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Glam Gerry (9-7) at Navan 2m mdn stks in Oct.
Faranadooney (USA) 16-1 (8-3) Soon mid-division, improved on outer into straight to soon track leaders, no impression in 7th and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 14, 12l behind Citizenship (9-1) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp in Jul.
First Impressions (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Prominent, 3rd halfway, 2nd 5f out, weakened early straight, 14th of 15, well behind Glam Gerry (9-7) at Navan 2m mdn stks in Oct.
Khan Tengri (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Ridden early to lead, strongly pressed and headed early straight, no extra from over 1f out, 9th of 14, 8l behind La Oliva (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 47-65 pol in Jan.
Pique Sous (FR) 4-7fav (11-12) Made all, asserted approaching last and kept on well, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m Maiden Hurdle (5-6yo) in Oct beating Dale Street (11-4) by 5l, 18 ran.
Raise The Beat 9-2 (9-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in close 3rd 2f out, soon challenged, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Edeymi (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn stks pol in Jan.
Refresh Lad (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, weakened entering straight, eased final furlong, tailed off, last of 16, well behind Cluain Alainn (9-5) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f mdn stks gf in Jun '09.
Sword Of Honour (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Soon raced in moderate 2nd, closed from 5f out, led approaching 2f out, pressed 1 1/2f out, headed and kept on same pace well inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Ceol Rua (9-2) at Ballinrobe 1m 6f mdn stks sft in Jun.
Yeoman (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Led, jumped left 4 out and badly left next, kept on under pressure in straight, headed early run-in and soon no extra, lost 2 places closing stages, 4th of 11, 13l behind Reality Dose (10-4) at Naas 2m hcp chs 0-109 hvy in Jan.
Gold Tantrum (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Mid-division early, 8th halfway, headway into 5th 4 out, ridden into 3rd entering straight, no impression before last, kept on one pace, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 25l behind Mia's Vic (10-11) at Sligo 2m mdn hdl hvy in Aug.
Pleasing Sunset (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) Soon mid-division, 9th early, kept on same pace from 2f out, 7th of 14, 9l behind Johann Bach (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn stks pol in Dec.
Overcall (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 5th before halfway, ridden and no impression from 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 20, 6l behind Ebazan (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stks in Sep.
Somewhere 10-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 8l behind Edeymi (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn stks pol in Jan.
Diamondgeezer Luke (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Mid-division, 10th halfway, ridden 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 15, 8l behind Sheilas Wish (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp 47-65 gs in Sep.
Posh Frock (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, tailed off, 12th of 14, 9l behind Gretzky (10-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f Amateur Handicap (50-75) (4yo+) pol in Jan.