soon led, joined after 6th, headed approaching 3 out where mistake, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
prominent, slight mistake 1st, on terms after 6th, slight mistake next, headed between last 2, no impression from before last, no extra and eased closing stages
held up towards rear, no impression from 3 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, closed up from 4 out, 3rd before straight, no impression and not fluent 2 out, no extra
held up, a little keen, some headway and chasing leaders when fell 3 out
prominent, a little keen, not fluent 4 out, soon pushed along between horses and lost place, weakened
held up, slight mistakes 1st and 6th, no impression approaching 3 out, soon no extra
led early, prominent, a little keen, on terms approaching 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon switched left, led between last 2, asserted from before last, eased closing stages
chased leaders, closer order from 6th, under pressure approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, a little keen, 6th before straight, slightly impeded 2 out and soon switched left, kept on same pace
chased leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon no impression, no extra straight
in rear, pushed along and headway approaching 3 out, 7th before straight, no extra and jumped left 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 5th before straight, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, one pace
held up towards rear, slight mistake 4th, no impression from 6th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along in 4th before straight, no impression and mistake 2 out, no extra
The veteran Might Be Magic won this last year but had just three subsequent runs in the spring so could just need the run. The lightly-raced Jack Slade was well supported at Naas last time and showed a bit more promise while Shannak is showing real improvement having followed a good run at Gowran with his best run so far when chasing home Ice Cold Soul on heavy ground at Leopardstown. Another Challenge was in winning form on testing ground a couple of years ago but has shown nothing since returning from a long absence so the vote goes to the lightly-raced COURT CHALLENGE (NAP), who has yet to prove that she stays this far but wasn't stopping when beating The Conker Club over the minimum at Gowran in November.
Massini's Brook (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) In rear, not fluent 6th, closer when mistake 3 out and ridden, soon no impression, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Court Challenge (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Prominent and disputed lead from 2nd, led before 3 out, strongly pressed and joined briefly last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m hcp sft in Nov beating The Conker Club (11-3) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Fiosrach (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, led 4 out, headed after next and dropped to 5th before 2 out, no extra, 6th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Desoto County (10-10) at Thurles 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Might Be Magic 16-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, ridden in moderate 13th 3 out, soon no impression, 11th of 21, 20l behind Bog War (10-8) at Navan 2m hcp hvy in Mar.
Coolbane West (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Held up in rear, 7th halfway, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, not fluent next, soon no impression and kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 20 1/2l behind Arkwrisht (11-4) at Tramore 2m 5f mdn hvy in Dec.
Padre Tito (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Towards rear, mistake 1st, never a factor, 15th of 18, dist behind Ice Cold Soul (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hvy in Dec.
Clontarf (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace into 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Rebel Turn (11-10) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Dec.
Shannak (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Soon chased leaders, headway straight, switched left and 2nd approaching last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Ice Cold Soul (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hvy in Dec.
Luddenmore (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Raced towards rear, 6th with a circuit to race, ridden approaching straight and soon no impression, 7th of 8, 20l behind The Mad Well (10-6) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Mick The Boyo (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Towards rear, 15th before straight, soon no impression, slight mistake last, one pace, 14th of 21, 23 3/4l behind Fighting Days (10-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Jack Slade (IRE) 7-2 (10-1) Tracked leaders on inner, 5th 3 out, soon ridden, 4th 2 out, no impression, 5th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Vicangelome (11-6) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Jan.
Theo (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway before 2 out, weakened before last, 8th of 10, dist behind Pekanheim (11-12) at Hexham 2m hcp (5) gd in May.
Fainne An Lae (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Led, headed before 4th, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon dropped to last and no impression, rallied to go moderate 4th at last, kept on one paced, 4th of 7, 10 1/2l behind Vicangelome (11-6) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Jan.
Summit Point (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, soon moderate 4th, lost place and not fluent 3 out, no extra approaching straight, 10th of 19, 37 1/2l behind Patsio (11-12) at Tipperary 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in May.
Crack On Corrie (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) In rear, slight mistake 1st, no impression from 4 out, remote 8th when left 7th 2 out, kept on one paced, never a factor, 5th of 12, dist behind Ice Cool (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Another Challenge (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Led and disputed, slight mistakes 5th and 5 out, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, no extra in 5th 2 out, weakened and tailed off, 5th of 10, dist behind Flemenstorm (9-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hvy in Dec.
