made all, pushed along and went clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, easily
always in rear, took keen hold, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
raced in touch in 5th, pushed along before 3 out, moderate 5th 2 out, kept on without threatening leaders to go moderate 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders disputing 3rd, 2nd briefly 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon no impression
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd briefly 3 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, 3rd before next, no impression on leaders
tracked leaders disputing 3rd, 4th and mistake 3 out, pushed along and went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden and no impression on winner, kept on same pace in 2nd
always in rear, mistakes, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
Winning point-to-pointer BETTER DAYS AHEAD has a penalty for a bumper success on this track. He ran in the championship bumper at Cheltenham before falling three out when travelling well on his hurdling debut at Down Royal. Feast is also penalised for a bumper success but has been well beaten in two subsequent starts. Insouciant Dallier could not handle Will Do at Sligo but has no problems staying the trip while dual point-to-point winner Kalanisi Flash has been running well over shorter and will be suited by stepping up.
Better Days Ahead (IRE) 8-15fav (11-12) Led early, headed 4th, 3rd halfway, headway travelling easily to regain lead after 4 out, 5 lengths clear with one other when fell 3 out, at Down Royal 2m 6f mdn sft in Nov.
Feast (IRE) 100-1 (12-0) Towards rear, 4th halfway, pushed along over 3f out, soon no extra and kept on one pace, last of 5, 34 1/2l behind Firefox (12-3) at Down Royal 2m 1f sft in Nov.
Ca Plane Pour Moi (IRE) 300-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th before 4 out, no impression 2 out, no extra before last, 10th of 22, dist behind Slade Steel (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Insouciant Dallier (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd after 3 out and not fluent next, pushed along and no impression on winner entering straight, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Will Do (11-12) at Sligo 3m 1f mdn sft in Oct.
Kalanisi Flash (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and headway to lead after 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, no impression on winner and kept on one pace, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Charming Fortune (11-4) at Sligo 2m 4f mdn sft in Oct.
Metalor (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 5th before straight, no extra 3 out, weakened, 11th of 14, dist behind Black Bamboo (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f mdn Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Ganderstown (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, 6th halfway, pushed along and lost place 4f out, ridden in 8th and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace without threatening, 6th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Big Dee (12-0) at Down Royal 2m 1f sft in Nov.
The Dooner Citizen (IRE) 125-1 (11-12) Towards rear, not fluent 4 out, mistake next, soon pushed along and no extra, 8th of 18, dist behind Tag Man (11-12) at Listowel 2m 4f mdn Yielding - Soft in Sep.
