raced in 18th early, slight mistake 4th, no extra and eased from before last
tracked leaders, 4th early, 6th 4 out, one pace 2 out
raced in 15th early, effort before straight, one pace from before 2 out
raced in 14th early, headway from before 3 out, one pace next
raced in 13th early, slight mistake 4 out, soon headway, kept on same pace from 2 out
not fluent 1st, raced in 16th early, slight mistake 5th, no extra and eased straight
soon led and disputed, joined from before 2 out, soon headed, not fluent last, edged left run-in and one pace
raced in 12th early, closed to chase leaders 4 out, challenged and on terms from before 2 out, soon led, slow jump last, stayed on well to assert run-in where edged left
raced in 10th early, slightly impeded 3 out, soon headway on outer, chased winner and slight mistake last, kept on same pace run-in
raced in 7th early, effort straight, no impression when slightly impeded run-in, one pace
close up and disputed lead, 3rd before straight, kept on same pace from 2 out
towards rear for most, no extra and eased from before last
soon tracked leaders in 3rd, no impression when not fluent last, one pace
raced in 11th early, mistake 2 out, soon one pace
raced in 6th early, effort straight, kept on same pace from before last
raced in 9th early, mistake 3 out, no extra from before next
held up, raced in 17th early, closed up travelling smoothly straight, one pace from before last
towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, no extra and eased from before last
soon tracked leaders in 4th, lost place straight, kept on well run-in
raced in 8th early, slight mistake 2nd, kept on same pace from 2 out
The top three are all owned by J P McManus, as is Housesofparliament, and Barry Geraghty is on board Bleu Et Rouge for Willie Mullins. His mount looked a high-class hurdler when landing a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in February of last year then spent last season chasing. He's returned on what looks a very fair mark and is expected to get into contention. His stable companion Meri Devie is only four but has a bright future judging by his recent second to Early Doors at Naas so he's greatly respected on his handicap debut. Ben Dundee had no problems beating a big field of handicappers at Punchestown in October after which he was earmarked for this and a 10lb rise shouldn't make too much difference as he still looks well treated. Ted Veale has been running well on the Flat and is another looking well treated on his best hurdles form while Davids Charm was improving at a rate of knots in the autumn. YAHA FIZZ (NAP) completed a hat-trick earlier this year and went up a massive 18lb for the latest of them. He reappeared with a tremendous attempt to make all at Punchestown and though passed by Top Othe Ra was conceding 5lb to the winner and can take his revenge on the revised terms and land this nice prize.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, behind from next, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Elgin (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Tigris River (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Mid-division, outpaced before 2 out, never able to challenge, 9th of 13, 21 3/4l behind Elgin (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Bleu Et Rouge (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Held up, soon raced in 5th, not fluent 6th, last when bad mistake 7th, pushed along in moderate 5th from 2 out and no impression, left distant 4th and hampered at last, 4th of 6, 37 3/4l behind Disko (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Chateau Conti (FR) 2-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway into 4th and left 3rd 3 out, pushed along in 3rd 2 out, went 2nd before last, ridden to lead after last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f sft in Nov beating The Storyteller (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Ted Veale (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Soon raced in 4th, pushed along into straight where raced towards outer, soon one pace, 6th of 9, 8l behind Tocco D'amore (8-9) at Naas 1m 4f lst stks (1) sft in Nov.
Top Othe Ra (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Took keen hold early and settled behind leaders, pushed along in 3rd from 2 out and improved to dispute lead before last, soon led and kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Yaha Fizz (11-10) by 1l, 10 ran.
Yaha Fizz (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led, pushed along and joined before last, soon headed and ridden, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Top Othe Ra (11-8) at Punchestown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Davids Charm (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer before 3 out, lost place on rail and slightly hampered after 3 out, dropped towards rear, pushed along into 5th entering straight, ridden into 3rd after 2 out, stayed on well run-in, just held, 2nd of 11, nk behind Lagostovegas (10-7) at Listowel 2m hcp hvy in Sep.
Meri Devie (FR) 5-4fav (10-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold, slight mistake 2nd, closer 4th 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Early Doors (10-13) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Ben Dundee (IRE) 13-8fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway in 7th halfway, travelled well and progress to lead entering straight, 2 lengths clear and slight mistake last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in Oct beating Clara Sorrento (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 22 ran.
Charlie Stout (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead before 3 out, pushed along and pressed 2 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, under pressure and kept on run-in, headed on line, 2nd of 13, shd behind Top Othe Ra (10-6) at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Time For Mabel (FR) 7-2fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden under 2f out and no impression over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Commander Won (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Highland Fling (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Prominent, soon 2nd, led 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, not quite get to winner, 2nd of 16, shd behind Swamp Fox (9-7) at Naas 1m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Housesofparliament (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along and no impression before 4 out, no extra 3 out, weakened, 9th of 13, 36 1/4l behind Top Othe Ra (10-6) at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Nov.
She's A Star (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 1st and 2nd, 5th before 4 out, again not fluent 2 out and soon ridden, slightly short of room and switched to outer before last, kept on run-in to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Top Othe Ra (11-8) at Punchestown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Timi Roli (FR) 4-1jfav (11-3) Mid-division, 5th halfway, closer travelling well approaching 2 out, headway to dispute before last where mistake, ridden and headed run-in, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Persistent (10-0) at Tipperary 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Veinard (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Towards rear, some headway 3 out, pushed along in 8th before next, no extra, 8th of 13, 17 1/4l behind Top Othe Ra (10-6) at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Nov.
West Coast Time (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) In rear, 7th at 5th, 6th at 8th, mistake 3 out, progress to moderate 5th after 3 out, no extra before 2 out, 5th of 7, 33 3/4l behind Robin Des Foret (11-6) at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Oct.
Agent Boru (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Mid-division, closer in 4th 4 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression, 4th of 16, 15l behind Jetz (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn sft in Nov.
Laverteen (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Disputed lead, led and slight mistake 3rd, ridden and slight mistake and headed 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd when mistake again at last, weakened run-in, 4th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Next Destination (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
