tracked leaders, soon 4th, not fluent 3rd, switched left approaching straight, 2nd approaching 2 out where led, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in
waited with, soon raced in 5th, closed up and tight for room after 3 out, 4th approaching 2 out where challenged, soon 2nd, one pace run-in
led, joined approaching straight, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out and dropped to 3rd, soon no impression in 4th and one pace
keen, tracked leaders, soon 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, tight for room on inner after next, dropped to 5th approaching 2 out, 3rd again and chased front pair last, ran on without threatening run-in
waited with, soon raced in 6th, closed up approaching 4 out, pushed along briefly from next, soon slightly bumped, pushed along again before straight, no extra in rear approaching 2 out, weakened
prominent, soon raced in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, slight mistake 3 out and pushed along briefly, on terms approaching straight, soon pushed along again, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, weakened and bad mistake last
waited with, a little keen in rear, pushed along before straight, 6th approaching 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace without threatening on outer run-in
Winning point-to-pointer BALLYADAM put a shock bumper defeat behind him when scoring by 18 lengths at Downpatrick then made a very impressive hurdling debut when beating two previous bumper winners in a canter at Down Royal. He'll take some beating wherever he turns up this winter. Stable companions One Down and The Very Man are smart performers but look to be playing for places while Cask Mate looked suited by 2m4f when slamming Dewcup at Punchestown. N'Golo is a promising type who stayed on strongly to beat the four-year-old Annexation in a Navan Grade 3 though much more will be needed here as the close third has been beaten in a maiden subsequently.
Ballyadam (IRE) 4-6fav (12-0) Prominent, soon 2nd, closed up 3 out travelling smoothly, led approaching 2 out, quickly asserted, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Down Royal 2m mdn sft in Oct beating Colonel Mustard (12-0) by 12l, 18 ran.
Cask Mate (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, 7th halfway, left 5th and slightly hampered 7th, slight mistake 3 out, mistake 2 out, on terms travelling well entering straight, soon pushed along to lead and quickly clear, mistake last, kept on well run-in, eased close home, won at Punchestown 2m 5f Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Dewcup (11-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Dewcup (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Raced mainly in 3rd, pushed along and went 2nd approaching last, ridden and attempted to challenge run-in, no impression and kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Fury Road (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 6f (1) hvy in Nov.
N'Golo (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, a little keen, soon raced in 3rd, 4th approaching straight, pushed along 2 out and not match leaders until ran on to lead over 50yds out, stayed on well, won at Navan 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Annexation (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
One Down (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Led, jumped slightly right 1st, ran slightly off bend approaching 4th, pushed along from 2 out, headed before last, no extra and one pace after, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind N'golo (11-7) at Navan 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
The Very Man (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Bumped 1st, prominent, slight mistake 4 out, disputed 2nd approaching 3 out, soon led, pecked badly and unseated rider 2 out, at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Annexation (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Keen, waited with, soon raced in 5th, pushed along and headway approaching 2 out, led before last where slight mistake, headed over 50yds out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind N'golo (11-7) at Navan 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
