chased leaders, led before 3rd, joined 5th and disputed, ridden and headed after 3 out, no extra entering straight
held up towards rear, progress before 4 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, challenged before 2 out, 2nd and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra in 3rd, kept on one pace
held up in mid-division, closer 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra before 2 out where mistake, kept on one pace
held up, mid-division halfway, ridden and no extra 4 out, behind when fell last
mid-division, progress before 4 out, disputed approaching 4 out, led entering straight, ridden to assert after 2 out, slight mistake last, pressed run-in and headed last 50 yards
held up towards rear, progress 4 out, ridden in 8th entering straight, soon no extra
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened
prominent early, soon chased leaders, close up on outer from 7th, disputed before 4 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no extra in 4th before 2 out where slight mistake, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace
mid-division, slight mistake 8th, closer in 5th before 4 out, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened
mid-division, ridden and no impression 4 out, no extra entering straight
led and disputed, ridden and headed after 3 out, no extra and weakened
chased leaders, 6th halfway, closer in 3rd entering straight, ridden before 2 out, stayed on into 2nd after 2 out, closer last, kept on well to lead last 50 yards
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, no impression in 9th entering straight, soon no extra
Exciting Oscar had shown nothing over hurdles before beating a big field of handicappers at Punchestown. Runner-up Castlehume Gold is 5lb better off and entitled to make a race of it but it's along time since Moyode Lady won a race. The latter is inconsistent but would have a chance on her penultimate run but the vote goes to HAPPIE DAYS. Still a maiden after a dozen starts, he couldn't quite hold the powerful finish of Sweet Sting at Tipperary in October and was biting off much more than he could chew in a far better race at Punchestown next time. Winning point-to-pointer Half Shot steps up to this trip for the first time under Rules and looks certain to be suited while Ballea Fox is 1lb lower than his last victory on heavy ground on the latter track in February.
Half Shot (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 6th, pressed approaching straight and headed before 2 out, soon pushed along and no impression before last, no extra, 3rd of 14, 11l behind Archies Charm (12-0) at Limerick 2m 3f mdn hvy in Nov.
Exciting Oscar (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, stumbled on bend after 1st, some headway 5 out, progress into 5th 2 out, pushed along and led early straight, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Castlehume Gold (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 20 ran.
Ballymadun 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division on inner, 7th halfway, closer 5 out, slight mistake 3 out and no extra approaching next, eased run-in, 10th of 14, dist behind Vipers Nest (11-1) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hvy in Nov.
Raleagh Flora 22-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden in 10th when hampered and brought down before 3 out, at Down Royal 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Happie Days (IRE) 200-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, ridden and no impression next, behind when pulled up before last, at Punchestown 2m 5f Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Moyode Lady (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, progress on outer before 2 out, pushed along in 4th after 2 out, ridden and no impression when not fluent last, kept on one pace, 5th of 17, 17 1/4l behind A Girl Like Me (10-9) at Galway 2m 5f hcp sft in Oct.
Castlehume Gold (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out and 4th next, pushed along in 3rd early straight, went 2nd run-in and kept on well, 2nd of 20, 1 3/4l behind Exciting Oscar (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Robindevidastar (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway on inner after 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, 6th and ridden last, no impression run-in, 7th of 20, 9l behind Dragon's Pass (11-1) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Ballea Fox 17-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, disputed 5th after 6th, moderate 6th approaching straight, soon one pace, bad mistake last, 7th of 18, 23 1/4l behind Ballyshannon Rose (11-12) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hvy in Dec.
Wavylake (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened and tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Get Rich Die Plyin (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 7f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Thimbleweed 33-1 (10-13) Towards rear, mistake 5th, pushed along in mid-division when hampered before 3 out, no extra, 11th of 18, dist behind Ragin Cajun (10-13) at Down Royal 3m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Creative Venture (IRE) 200-1 (12-0) Towards rear, some headway on outer approaching straight, no impression from 2 out, no extra, 7th of 14, dist behind Archies Charm (12-0) at Limerick 2m 3f mdn hvy in Nov.
Keep The Peace (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, slight mistakes 8th and 10th, soon pushed along towards rear, ridden after 3 out and 10th entering straight, kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 26l behind Fenno's Storm (11-7) at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Nov.
Round The Buoy 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, slight mistakes 6th and 9th, ridden in moderate 6th 3 out, no impression, 7th of 12, dist behind Luis Van Zandt (11-6) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Miss Anfield (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Mid-division, slight mistakes 5th and 6th, weakened 4 out, 18th of 22, dist behind Scarlet And Dove (11-7) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar.
Pino Boy (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Rear of mid-division, closer early straight, pushed along and slight mistake 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 8th of 20, 11 3/4l behind Dragon's Pass (11-1) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Boogily Lane (IRE) (11-11) Mid-div, slow 3rd, 2nd 1/2way, chall ldr 3out & sn rdn, onepce aftr 2out, ko aftr last but not mtch wnr, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Sleve Donard (12-2) at Loughbrickland 3m mdn hvy in Nov.
