prominent at ordinary pace, mistake 3 out and ridden, 6th before straight, chased leaders and no impression from 2 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders at ordinary pace, still 3rd before straight, soon lost place and no impression
held up in rear off ordinary pace, ridden and ran on without threatening straight
reluctant leader at ordinary pace, not always fluent jumping, attempted to assert straight, strongly pressed and joined from 2 out, headed last, not match winner and kept on run-in
prominent at ordinary pace, still 2nd before straight, soon lost place and no impression
soon mid-division at ordinary pace, 8th before straight, ridden to chase leaders from 2 out, moderate 3rd before last, kept on without getting to principals run-in
waited with off ordinary pace, closer in 7th 4 out, 4th before straight, challenged 2 out, soon on terms, led last, stayed on well run-in
waited with towards rear at ordinary pace, 9th before straight, 7th 2 out, soon ridden to chase leaders and no impression, kept on same pace
waited with towards rear at ordinary pace, no impression from before straight
tracked leaders at ordinary pace, 5th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, landed awkwardly and kept on same pace from last
soon mid-division at ordinary pace, 7th before straight, soon no impression
Beckwith Star is 20lb lower over hurdles than fences and has dropped to such a lowly mark that he should be winning soon. Wooly Tom shot up the weights after winning at Limerick in July and looks too high but Kilmainham is progressing nicely and only the well-handicapped Luke's Benefit proved too strong at Thurles. Smart Money only scrambled home here three weeks ago on his handicap debut but was value for more than the winning margin suggests. A 5lb rise looks fair enough and he has to be on the short-list along with Corbally, who showed massive improvement when beaten a short-head at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. NORAH STARR was caught close home by Summer Star at Leopardstown earlier this month. She's generally raced in better company and, as that was her first start since August, she should have come on enough to take this.
Sands Cove (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, some headway approaching straight but no impression in 7th 2 out, no extra, 9th of 16, 18l behind Sherika (9-5) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Jan.
Somedaysomehow (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden in 6th after 3 out, no impression 2 out, 9th of 11, 40l behind Zuzka (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hdl G3 (1) sft in Dec.
Wooly Tom (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 5th and took keen hold, 4th entering straight but no impression after 2 out, no extra, 6th of 9, 16l behind Worldor (11-1) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Nov.
Kilmainham (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Chased leader in 4th, 2nd early straight but no impression on easy winner after 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Luke's Benefit (10-8) at Thurles 2m hcp hdl 80-116 hvy.
Shesonlyahorse (IRE) 5-2 (9-10) Led, headed before 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, soon no extra and weakened before last, 8th of 9, 44l behind Clashnabrook (11-1) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-109 hvy.
Smart Money (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden and joined, kept on under pressure from last, led near line, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 80-102 hvy beating Quartetto (11-5) by hd, 10 ran.
Corbally (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Settled in rear of mid-division, good headway to go 5th approaching 2 out, ridden in 4th entering straight and went 3rd before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, just failed, 2nd of 15, shd behind World Citizen (10-11) at Punchestown 2m cond hcp hdl 80-95 hvy in Dec.
Norah Starr (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Held up in rear and took keen hold, headway after halfway and went 4th 3 out, led before next and ridden to assert early straight, kept on under pressure, no extra and headed closing stages, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Summer Star (10-1) at Leopardstown 2m 2f mares hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft.
Beckwith Star (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) In rear, 8th halfway, moderate 5th after 3 out, some headway to go 3rd 2 out, no impression when not fluent last, dropped to 4th run-in, disqualified for weighing in light, in a race won by Liszt (11-6) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp hdl 80-109 hvy in Nov, 10 ran.
Another Tempest (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, moderate 7th 4 out, went moderate 5th 3 out, kept on one paced, 4th of 15, 43l behind Don Cossack (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Nov.
Bright Light City (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 8th halfway, kept on same pace from 3 out, 8th of 14, 22l behind Red Cert (11-4) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl gd in Sep.
