towards rear, 13th approaching 5 out, some headway before 2 out, no extra approaching last where slow jump
soon tracked leaders, 4th approaching 5 out, one pace from before 2 out
chased leaders early, lost place when slightly impeded 9th, last approaching 5 out, no impression from 3 out where slight mistake, pulled up before last
held up, pulled up quickly approaching 3rd
chased leaders, 8th approaching 5 out, lost place next, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, slight mistake 6th and pushed along, 12th approaching 5 out, headway before 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
soon mid-division, slightly slow in jumping at times, 9th approaching 5 out, headway to chase leaders from before 2 out, soon no impression, went 2nd without troubling winner run-in, kept on same pace without threatening
mid-division early, 10th approaching 5 out, no impression from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division early, 7th approaching 5 out, slight mistake 3 out, went 2nd travelling smoothly approaching straight, led before last, stayed on well to assert run-in, easily
soon led and disputed, headed from 3 out, weakened and pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 5th approaching 5 out, lost place and no impression from 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 3rd approaching 5 out, on terms on inner from 3 out, led before 2 out, soon went on until headed before last where bad mistake, no extra and dropped to 3rd run-in, one pace
close up and disputed lead, slight mistake 8th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
soon chased leaders, 6th approaching 5 out, no impression from 3 out, pulled up before last
held up, 14th approaching 5 out, some progress to chase leaders before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace without threatening
held up, mistake and unseated rider 9th
held up, 11th approaching 5 out, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace without threatening
Willie Mullins has three entries and Ruby Walsh rides Ben Button, who was having his first start for the yard and his first since August when runner-up to today's rival The King Of Brega over slightly shorter at Downpatrick. He'll be fancied to reverse the form with that under his belt but Bosco Di Alco takes a big step-up in trip after just failing to concede High Five Oscar 12lb at Roscommon. King Leon was in cracking form over fences when last seen a year ago and reverts to hurdles on a lower mark while his stable companion Theydon Park continues to improve as he steps up in trip. Travertine was having his first start over the trip at Listowel and came home strongly while promising chaser Thanks For Tea can race off an 8lb lower mark over timber. Dawn Raider gained a first-ever victory at Killarney but is 9lb higher so the vote in a very tough race goes to TULSA JACK, who is much better known as a chaser these days but can revert to the smaller obstacles on a 20lb lower mark. Benkei, who ran well here on Monday and has a tremendous record on the track, would be the selection if getting a run from first reserve.
King Leon (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-7) Prominent throughout, disputed lead 6th, bad mistake 6 out and headed, disputed lead again 4 out, led and ridden entering straight, stayed on well run-in, won at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul beating Coldstonesober (10-4) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Little Mitch (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden to lead briefly 3 out, soon headed, under pressure in 4th 2 out, no extra before last where fell, at Killarney 2m 6f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Bobarlee (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and no extra after 4 out, weakened, 13th of 15, dist behind William B (11-0) at Bellewstown 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Dawn Raider (IRE) 9-2jfav (10-4) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, challenged between horses 3 out, soon led travelling well, ridden and joined 2 out, asserted before last, kept on strongly, won at Killarney 2m 6f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul beating Conduct Yourself (11-6) by 4 1/4l, 8 ran.
Bosco Di Alco (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 3 out, went 2nd after last, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind High Five Oscar (11-4) at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Jul.
Travertine (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 4th, pushed along and some headway entering straight, ridden to go 3rd approaching last, kept on well run-in to lead close home, won at Listowel 3m hcp Yielding in Jun beating Icantsay (9-13) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Tulsa Jack (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders and improved into 2nd after 4th, left in a share of the lead 3 out and ridden after next, headed after last and no extra in 4th run-in, 4th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Phil's Magic (10-2) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Static Jack (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Raced in close 4th, slight mistake 9th, pushed along early straight, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 5, 5 1/2l behind Conrad Hastings (11-5) at Killarney 2m 7f gd in Jul.
Ben Button (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Held up, mid-division early, towards rear from 5th, progress into 6th after 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, stayed on into 3rd last, kept on run-in into 2nd, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 7l behind The King Of Brega (11-3) at Downpatrick 2m 6f hcp gd in Jun.
Capture The Drama (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Chased leader in 2nd, lost place from 6 out, ridden from 3 out and soon no danger, 10th of 13, dist behind Eiri Na Casca (10-2) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Novano (GER) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, soon no extra, 10th of 15, 10 1/2l behind Knockmaole Boy (11-5) at Limerick 2m gd in Jul.
Newsworthy (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, improved to lead after 6 out and pushed along after 2 out, ridden before last and kept on well run-in, won at Kilbeggan 2m 6f gd in Jul beating Screaming Rose (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Definite Soldier (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Led, jumped left 6 out, still in front when fell 3 out, at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
A Decent Excuse (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, left in share of lead 4 out and led after next, joined again before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra and dropped to 6th run-in, 6th of 13, 8l behind Eiri Na Casca (10-2) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Icantsay (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led early, headed 2nd, 4th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Manuka (11-6) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Theydon Park 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders early, mid-division halfway, ridden in 6th 3 out, 5th and mistake next, 5th at last, stayed on well to go 2nd close home, strongly pressed winner to line, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind The Rite Article (11-0) at Bellewstown 3m hcp gd in Jul.
Letter Of Credit (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Soon raced in 6th, closer in 4th from 7th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden to challenge before 2 out, soon 2nd, no impression and one pace from before last, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Eight Till Late (11-6) at Sligo 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
The King Of Brega (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leader in 2nd, dropped to 5th from 7th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened and eased before next, 10th of 16, 32 1/2l behind Rock On Fruity (10-1) at Limerick 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Madurai (GER) 4-1jfav (11-9) Mid-division on outer, lost place and pushed along in 14th after 3 out, no impression from before next, 12th of 15, 20 3/4l behind Knockmaole Boy (11-5) at Limerick 2m gd in Jul.
Thanks For Tea (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Rear, 18th after 7th, took closer order before 2 out where slightly hampered, kept on well final furlong, never on terms, 7th of 19, 7 1/2l behind Riviera Sun (10-11) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Aug.
Mindsmadeup (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Raced in 4th early, a little keen, hampered on inner after 2nd, 5th at 7th, switched left after 3 out, ridden to lead before 2 out where slight mistake, headed approaching last, one pace run-in and dropped to 3rd near finish, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Immortal Bridge (10-13) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Benkei (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Towards rear early, progress to track leader in 2nd after 2f, improved to lead over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, dropped to 3rd entering straight, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 15 1/2l behind Renneti (9-12) at Galway 1m 6f sft in Aug.
Call Vinnie (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 6th from 5th, closed to chase winner on inner before straight, travelling smoothly in 2nd when pecked slightly 2 out, slightly slow at last, soon no impression, one pace, 2nd of 12, 4 3/4l behind Clontarf (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Jan.
