disputed lead early, led from 2nd, travelling well entering straight, ridden 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last, moderate 6th at last, no impression
tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to 6th and mistake 3 out, soon no impression, behind and mistake at last
in rear, pushed along in moderate 8th entering straight, ridden after 2 out, headway into moderate 4th at last, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd last strides
always behind, never a factor
mid-division on inner, pushed along briefly at 8th, ridden in 6th entering straight, moderate 5th before last, no impression
rear of mid-division, pecked on landing at 2nd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
mid-division, dropped to rear of mid-division and mistake 3 out, never a factor
disputed lead early, headed 2nd and then chased leader, 2nd entering straight, ridden and dropped to 3rd 2 out, moderate 2nd before last, no extra and dropped to 4th inside final furlong
always towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
mid-division, closer in 6th at halfway, went 3rd entering straight, headway to lead after 2 out and quickly went clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
tracked leaders, ridden in 7th entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders on inner, headway into 4th on inner entering straight, ridden in 4th 2 out, no impression on winner in 3rd at last, 2nd after last, kept on same pace, dropped to 3rd last strides
tracked leaders, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression from 2 out
always behind, never a factor
BAPAUME, a Grade 1 winning hurdler, raced at the highest level throughout his career over timber and though not having a conventional pedigree for chasing looks a high class recruit. Cap York, another smart hurdler, fell on his chasing debut but ran very well when runner-up to the odds-on Battleoverdoyen at Galway and there's much more to come. Galvin, a dual bumper and three-times hurdles winner, was well supported in that race but fell at the fourth while the progressive Captain Cj made a cracking debut over fences when chasing home Champagne Classic over the track and trip. Henry De Bromhead looks to have three smart recruits in Cuneo, the mount of Rachel Blackmore, Insult and Spyglass Hill while Ronald Pump has won four of his last five starts over timber. Joseph O'Brien's pair Smoking Gun and Speak Easy are other potentially useful chasers in what should be a very informative contest.
Bapaume (FR) (10-10) 2nd of 9, 3l behind Mr Adjudicator (10-5) at Auteuil 2m 3f gd in Jun.
Cap York (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders in 4th clear of remainder, went 3rd before 4 out, ridden and went 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Battleoverdoyen (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct.
Captain Cj (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Soon raced in 4th, pushed along briefly approaching straight, left chasing front pair from 2 out where slight mistake, left moderate 2nd from last, kept on well to close on winner but never getting there closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Champagne Classic (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Captain Cruiser (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Castlebawn West (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 2nd, pushed along in mid-division and slight mistake 3 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, 6th of 12, 17 3/4l behind Minella Indo (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Yielding in May.
Cuneo (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division early, 11th before 6th where slight mistake, slight mistake next, no impression from before 2 out, soon no extra, 18th of 23, dist behind My Sister Sarah (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Final List (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Close up and disputed lead, slow jump 3rd, 2nd after 6th, not fluent 8th, pushed along briefly approaching 4 out, soon pushed along again, no impression between last 2, slight mistake last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 13 1/2l behind Dream Conti (11-12) at Cork 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Galvin (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders in 3rd, dropped to 4th but well in touch when fell 4 out, at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct.
Insult (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Waited with, soon towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, effort towards outer from before straight, slight mistake last, kept on well without threatening run-in, 4th of 23, 3 1/2l behind My Sister Sarah (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Ronald Pump 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, progress into mid-division when slightly hampered 4 out, headway into 8th entering straight, ridden in 4th on outer 2 out, improved to lead before last, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Fairyhouse 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr beating Ifyoucatchmenow (10-5) by 2l, 23 ran.
Smoking Gun (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, slight mistake 5th, 5th before 6th where mistake, slight mistake 7th, pushed along 10th, slight mistake 3 out, no extra after next, 19th of 23, dist behind My Sister Sarah (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Speak Easy 4-1fav (11-6) Held up, 9th at 5th, progress from before 3 out, gained narrow lead 2 out, soon headed, one pace last, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Agent Boru (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp sft in Apr.
Spyglass Hill (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Soon disputed lead, led approaching 7th, slight mistake 9th, went on from before 2 out, jumped slightly left last, rider dropped whip run-in, stayed on well, won at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Oct beating Theatre World (10-5) by 7l, 12 ran.
Rare Deal (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Waited with, 9th approaching halfway, no impression from 6th, tailed off, 8th of 11, dist behind Castlebrook (11-12) at Wexford 2m 4f hvy in Oct.
