tracked leaders, headway to lead at 2nd, big jump 3rd, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to moderate 3rd 2 out, soon no impression, 4th inside final furlong
always behind, never a factor
led early, headed 2nd, 2nd and mistake 3 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner 2 out, moderate 2nd at last, kept on one pace, dropped to 3rd near line
mid-division on outer, 4th 3 out, soon ridden, 6th and mistake 2 out, no impression
always behind, never a factor
towards rear, 8th 3 out, pushed in moderate 7th 2 out, no impression
rear of mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, 8th and fell 2 out
tracked leaders on outer, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders, 6th 3 out, ridden in moderate 4th 2 out, moderate 4th at last, kept on without threatening to go 2nd near line, not trouble easy winner
tracked leaders, headway to lead travelling well on inner entering straight, went clear 2 out, well clear on bridle at last, stayed on strongly, eased inside final furlong, impressive
UNEXCEPTED went for E200,000 at the November Sales in 2017 after finished third at Auteuil the previous month. He hasn't run subsequently but that's no problem for one from his yard and he receives 8lb from The Very Man. Gordon Elliott's winning point-to-pointer and bumper was still there with every chance when falling at the last in the race won by the odds-on Beacon Edge at Punchestown and it will be a major surprise if he's not involved in the finish here. Triple bumper winner Bentham has shown little in two starts over hurdles but Jason The Militant ran very well behind the top-class Envoi Allen in a bumper here last December. Three Jacks scored on testing ground on the Flat but this looks a tough hurdling debut.
Bentham (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, moderate 6th halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, soon no extra, 6th of 25, dist behind Embittered (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Sois Gentil (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Soon well off pace in 13th, never a factor, 11th of 15, dist behind Daylight Katie (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Oct.
The Very Man (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Prominent, 2nd approaching halfway, closed up before 3 out, on terms next, every chance when fell last, at Punchestown 2m mdn Yielding in Oct.
Three Jacks (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Soon led, pushed along and headed 2f out, soon no extra, 8th of 10, 7 1/4l behind De Coronado (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f pol in Sep.
All The Mollies (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 6th halfway, not fluent and pushed along after 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, eased, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Mount Ida (11-7) at Galway 2m mdn sft in Oct.
Barnaviddaun (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 4th aftr a mile, btn bef 4out, wknd qckly & last 3out, to when pu bef 2out, at Lisronagh 3m mdn gs in Apr.
Even Flight (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, moderate 8th halfway, no impression before 4 out, never a danger, 7th of 25, dist behind Embittered (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Hell On Earth (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Close up early, chased leaders from 2nd, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd halfway, disputed from 8th, slight mistake 4 out, headed 3 out, soon ridden, no extra entering straight, weakened, 6th of 11, dist behind Royal Thief (11-4) at Thurles 2m 7f mdn Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Jason The Militant (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway into 4th entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2f out, soon no impression on leaders, kept on same pace in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 14, 10 1/2l behind Envoi Allen (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Dec.
Unexcepted (FR) (10-5) 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind L'Amour Du Risk (10-5) at Auteuil 2m 2f hvy in Oct.
Creggs Star (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, weakened 5 out, completely tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Ard Abhainn (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn sft in Oct.
