tracked leaders, mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up, progress approaching 5 out, led 3 out, joined from before last, soon headed and one pace
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge and on terms from before last, soon led and stayed on best
tracked leaders, pushed along and no impression from 2 out, no extra approaching last
towards rear, one pace under pressure straight
soon mid-division, bad mistake 8th, progress 3 out, no extra from next
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, soon dropped to rear, not fluent 4th, no danger 8th, soon pulled up
soon disputed lead, headed from 6th, slight mistakes 5 out and 4 out, soon pushed along, lost place approaching straight, one pace after
chased leaders, pushed along straight, one pace 2 out
towards rear, some headway under pressure straight, kept on same pace from 2 out, slight mistake last
held up, slightly impeded 1st, hampered and fell 3rd
soon disputed lead, led from 6th, headed 3 out, rallied to get on terms again and every chance before last where mistake and unseated rider
Noel Meade is striking while the iron is hot with TIGER SAM, who attempts a hat-trick under a penalty after his victory at Down Royal on Saturday. He'd initiated the double by beating Moss Grove at Punchestown and the latter's subsequent victory on the same track puts him at a disadvantage at the weights. Gibbstown is inconsistent and was beaten a long way when runner-up at Sligo while winning point-to-pointer Mister To Mister had a real battle to beat today's rival Paudi The Punter at Downpatrick though should confirm the form. Irish Bulletin, three times a winner over hurdles, has had six starts over fences without reaching a place.
Tiger Sam (IRE) 7-4fav (9-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to dispute after 3 out, pushed along and led approaching last, ridden run-in and headed briefly 100 yards out, under pressure and kept on well close home, won at Down Royal 3m hcp gd in Nov beating Topper Thornton (11-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Prosperity Square (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, 2nd halfway, disputed lead briefly approaching 4 out, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, weakened, 8th of 14, dist behind Cloudy Morning (11-11) at Wexford 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Irish Bulletin (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up, 6th approaching 5 out, soon tracked leaders, no impression in 6th 2 out, no extra after, 6th of 8, 28 3/4l behind Dreambaby (10-9) at Roscommon 3m hcp hvy in Oct.
Moss Grove (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) Soon tracked leaders, disputed 3rd at 6th, lost place slightly from 5 out, close 6th next, 3rd before straight, switched left before 2 out, soon led, mistake last, kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Oct beating Misdflight (10-9) by 3l, 9 ran.
Gibbstown (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in remote 3rd from 3 out, went remote 2nd at last, no impression on easy winner, 2nd of 4, 15l behind Willow Grange (10-2) at Sligo 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
Firmount Gent (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, some progress from 3 out, ridden in moderate 7th 2 out, went 4th at last, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Dark Outsider (11-0) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp gd in Oct.
Mister To Mister (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division and not fluent 2nd, 10th before 3 out, soon pushed along and rapid progress on outer to lead before next where mistake, soon headed, regained lead before last and kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp gd in Sep beating Paudi The Punter (10-0) by 4 1/4l, 15 ran.
Dinnie's Vinnie (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, never a factor, 9th halfway, pushed along and no impression 4 out, no extra after next, 9th of 10, dist behind Tiger Sam (10-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
Drop Anchor (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Rear, 13th after 9th, good headway to 4th 3 out, dropped to 7th at last, ridden and kept on run-in to 4th, no threat, 4th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Stonehall Jack (10-4) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
Town Pond (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up, 6th halfway, progress into 2nd and closed on leader 4 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no extra before 2 out, weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Lash It On (10-8) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp gd in May.
Tomcoole Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, led from 6th, headed 5 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Tramore 2m 6f hcp gd in Oct.
Is That Marmalade (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Mid-division, fell 9th, at Thurles 2m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
Paudi The Punter (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division, 8th 4 out, ridden after last and no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Capture The Drama (10-13) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Oct.