soon tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead from 4th, led entering straight, ridden clear before last, stayed on well run-in
towards rear, not fluent at 3rd, slight mistake 6th and reminder, ridden at 8th, under pressure in 7th 3 out, no impression
led, joined from 4th, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to 4th and no impression on leaders before last, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 3 out, weakened
mid-division, took keen hold, jumped right at 4th, went 3rd at next, mistake 5 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, went 2nd and no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, mistake 3rd, bumped next, rear of mid-division at 5th, ridden 5 out, under pressure when bad mistake and unseated rider 4 out
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, bumped at 4th, slight mistake 10th and dropped to rear, progress from 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, went 3rd and no impression on leaders at last, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, trailing in rear when bad mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
in rear, progress on inner into 5th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
Farceur Du Large has run in some decent races in four starts over fences though disappointed on heavy ground at Limerick. Spades Are Trumps gained his first success over fences on his 11th start at Kilbeggan in August but then ran poorly on testing ground in the 3m4f Cork Grand National. Wingin A Prayer was in touch and going well when falling two out at Punchestown while Millen To One was conceding 19lb when well beaten into second at Leopardstown. We may not have seen the best of Champagne Sparkles but SHOPPING AROUND won at Clonmel in October and would have finished much closer back there last month but for being impeded by a faller.
Farceur Du Large (FR) 5-2fav (11-5) Rear of mid-division, 6th after 6th, progress to 4th before 2 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 4th of 11, 19 1/4l behind King Alex (11-5) at Limerick 2m 2f hvy in Dec.
Spades Are Trumps (IRE) 5-1jfav (10-11) Rear, 10th after 11th, under pressure in 11th after 15th, soon weakened and detached, never a factor, pulled up before 3 out, at Cork 3m 4f hcp hvy in Oct.
Wingin A Prayer (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Chased leader after 1st, disputed after 5th to before 8th, remained close up, 1-length down when fell 2 out, at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Dec.
Agent Boru (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, under pressure after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 26 1/4l behind Smoking Gun (10-4) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp gd in Nov.
Flash De Touzaine (FR) 100-1 (12-0) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, 7th halfway, closer on inner and pecked 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 15, 26 3/4l behind Ferny Hollow (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Low Lie The Fields (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Rear, unseated rider at 1st, at Limerick 2m 2f hvy in Dec.
Millen To One (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Mid-division early, 11th at 4th, soon some progress, no impression straight, went moderate 2nd run-in and kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 19, 11l behind Siberian Star (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Champagne Sparkles (FR) 5-1 (12-0) Settled behind leaders, hampered 2nd, reminders next, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra before straight, weakened and pulled up before 3 out, at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Dec.
Shopping Around (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Towards rear, 8th halfway, headway early straight and left 4th 2 out, pushed along and went 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 12 1/4l behind Hilltop Supreme (9-12) at Clonmel 2m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
