tracked leaders, 4th 5 out, ridden and weakened from 3 out
always prominent, led from 5th, headed 3 out, ridden in 2nd next, soon led again, stayed on well under pressure from last
led, headed 5th, regained lead 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed after 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch in rear, mistake 4th, progress to track leaders when mistake 8th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 3rd next, short of room briefly approaching last, kept on without threatening to go 2nd close home
held up behind leaders, slight mistakes 8th and 9th, closer in 5th 4 out, ridden in 4th before 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, dropped to 3rd close home
held up in touch in rear, mistake 9th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, slight mistakes 3rd and 6th, pushed along briefly 5 out, 4th next, ridden 3 out, kept on one paced straight
Allied Victory has ben highly tried since an easy success on his chasing debut at Thurles in October and may have the edge over his stablemate Dromnea, who has been improving steadily and gained his first chasing success at Limerick though that was over shorter. Gallant Tipp started off with two fair runs over fences in the summer but hasn't made the expected progress. CHAMPAGNE JAMES was a very progressive type over timber and ran very well behind Valseur over this trip at Punchestown on his chasing debut. He was also staying on strongly over 2m1f behind Lots Of Memories at Navan so gets the vote. One Cool Shabra has won three times on the Flat and over hurdles but has yet to make his mark over the bigger obstacles.
Allied Victory (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, 5th early, impeded and dropped to 11th from 7th and reminders, soon improved again, under pressure 5 out, moderate 8th before straight, soon no extra, 9th of 15, 41l behind Page Turner (10-5) at Limerick 2m 3f hcap ch in Dec.
Dromnea (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Soon mid-division, 6th after 2nd, closer order to track leaders after 4th, on terms from 5th, led straight, clear between last 2, stayed on well run-in, eased close home, won at Limerick 2m 1f beg chs in Dec beating Upsie (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Benash (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, slow 2nd, 7th when mistake and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Down Under (10-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f cond hcap ch in Dec, 11 ran.
Champagne James (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 7th 3 out, no impression in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace from last to go 3rd run-in, 3rd of 18, 14l behind Lots Of Memories (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f beg chs in Dec.
Gallant Tipp (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Mid-division on outer, bad mistake 4th and dropped to rear, some progress 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 11, 18l behind Black Zero (10-2) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs hvy in Nov.
Moonlight Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, nudged along in moderate 5th after 4 out, onepaced straight, never a factor, 5th of 14, well behind Wounded Warrior (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f beg chs in Dec.
One Cool Shabra (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Soon chased leaders in 4th, tended to jump left, distant 5th from 3 out, one pace, 4th of 16, 44l behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m beg chs sft in Dec.
