Gordon Elliott's four-time hurdles winner gained his only Flat win on the all-weather at Dundalk last April but he looks to have been found a good opportunity here. The son of Danehill Dancer is rated 83 on the level and was in excellent form when last seen, finishing second to Sametegal in a Cheltenham hurdle race before finding only a couple too good in the November Handicap at Leopardstown in November. A repeat of that effort will make him extremely difficult to beat, despite the burden of a big weight. Luska Lad is an experienced jumped but hasn't shown his best for some time so the main threat to the selection might be posed by Mister First, who is a strong stayer and won on heavy ground at this venue last January.
Bayan (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, hit 2 out, ridden to chase winner last, stayed on, every chance towards finish, held close home, 2nd of 6, nk behind Sametegal (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hdl (2) gd in Oct.
De Glebe Star (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, mistakes 3rd and 7th, never a factor, detached 3 out, kept on one pace in straight, 11th of 16, well behind Day Dream Boy (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp hdl 80-109 in Jan.
Mister First (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Towards rear, weakened before 4 out, 4th of 7, 34l behind And The Man (11-1) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy.
Bills Official (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Soon mid-division, dropped towards rear 6th, no extra 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Witness Of Fashion (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-109 hvy.
Brigade (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 18l behind Shield (9-12) at Dundalk 2m mdn stks pol in Jan (flat).
Broadmeadow Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid div, prog to tr ldrs 4out, jnd ldr 4out, rdn in 3l 3rd appr str, went 3l 2nd last, not match wnr but ko to line, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Hix Fix (11-6) at Punchestown 3m ire ptp.
Down Time (USA) 100-1 (10-9) Held up in 4th, no impression before 3 out, weakened and tailed off, last of 5, well behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl in Jan.
Ghimaar 12-1 (11-6) Alw pr, rdn in tch 2out, not get on terms but kow, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Highly Unlikely (12-2) at Maralin 3m ire ptp in Nov.
Hide The Evidence (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leader in 2nd, close up and slight mistake 4 out, ridden and challenged next, no extra after 2 out, 5th entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 17l behind Sizing Australia (10-13) at Wexford 2m cond hcp hdl (80-109) sft in Oct.
Karkasar (IRE) 66-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, weakened 3 out, 15th of 17, well behind Mister Nibbles (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Jan.
Luska Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led and disputed, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, 7th of 13, 28l behind Never Enough Time (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m 1f in Jan.
Porlock Bay (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) Alw twrds rr, ko onepce, no dngr, 8th of 16, 29l behind Baku Bay (12-2) at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp gd in Oct.
Presenting Massey (IRE) 10-1 (12-2) Alw in rr, pu 2out, in a race won by A Stray Shot (11-6) at Tattersalls Farm 3m ire ptp sft in Dec, 16 ran.
Star Of Hollywood (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Mid-division, dropped towards rear halfway, ridden 7th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Refused A Name (10-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-109) in Jan, 10 ran.
Toca Deed (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear for most, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 9, 50l behind Theshowisover (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs gd in Jul.
Tylers Cottage 15-2 (11-12) Waited with, soon in mid-division, closer in 4th approaching straight, in pursuit of winner but no impression run-in, kept on, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Alexander Leaving (11-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f beg chs gd in Sep.
