chased leaders early, 3rd after 1st, dropped to last briefly but still in touch at 7th, closed up 4 out, effort straight, kept on without matching winner run-in
chased leaders, pecked badly at 1st, soon 4th, bad mistake 2nd, slight mistake 4 out, soon under pressure, no impression from before 2 out, soon no extra
disputed lead and soon went on, led from 7th but came back to field, soon joined again, led 8th, pressed straight, kept on well run-in
waited with, last after 1st, closed up before 4 out to be prominent, no impression from before last where mistake and left 3rd, one pace
slightly slow at 1st, soon chased leaders, slight mistake 5th, no impression from before 2 out where jumped left, soon no extra
waited with, 7th after 1st, closed up before 4 out, chasing leaders in 3rd when fell last
waited with early, 6th after 1st, slightly impeded 2nd, not fluent 3rd, slight mistake 4th, soon closed, slightly slow at 6th, pushed along briefly in last from 8th, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out
disputed lead and soon went on, slight mistake 7th and headed, soon back on terms, slight mistake and headed 8th, under pressure from 4 out, lost place and no extra from before straight
HALSAFARI (NAP), who won over hurdles here a year ago, landed a novices' chase at Limerick last month and took his chance in a Leopardstown Grade 3 next time but was an early faller. He's taken to make amends though From Eden scored on heavy going here in November and his next run a couple of weeks later was over hurdles. His stable companion Dakota Moirette has never won in 14 starts over fences while Roconga is on a very long losing run though has dropped to a fair mark. Spare Brakes has been in fine form over timber and would be an obvious threat if the ground turns heavy.
From Eden (USA) 12-1 (11-3) Disputed lead early, a little slow at 1st and headed, 3rd at 6th, no extra approaching straight, soon weakened, tailed off, 15th of 17, dist behind Mister Fogpatches (10-11) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Dakota Moirette (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and dropped to 6th when fell 3 out, at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Velocity Boy (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led, 4-length advantage halfway, slight mistake 5th, joined before straight, ridden and headed entering straight, soon no extra, 7th of 13, dist behind Scheu Time (11-6) at Cork 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Halsafari (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) In rear, bumped with rival and fell 5th, at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Roconga (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd entering straight, dropped to 4th after 2 out, no impression, moderate 5th last strides, 5th of 8, 19l behind Debuchet (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Spare Brakes (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge before 2 out, disputed 2 out, kept on, 2nd and held closing stages of run-in, 2nd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Difficult Decision (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Pound A Stroke (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Prominent, 2nd halfway, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, 4th when slight mistake last, no extra, 5th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Countess Cathleen (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hvy in Jan.
Shrewdoperator (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Prominent, tracked leader, not fluent 1st, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no impression in 6th after 3 out, no extra, 6th of 9, dist behind Young Dev (11-2) at Limerick 2m 2f hcp hvy in Dec.
