close up and disputed lead, under pressure in 3rd before straight, every chance when not fluent last, soon one pace
held up in rear and a little keen, slight mistake 3 out, 6th before straight, soon one pace
held up and a little keen, 6th from 3rd, lost place and dropped to last approaching straight, no extra and eased before last
soon tracked leaders, 3rd from 3rd where slight mistake, 4th before straight, kept on well run-in without matching winner
led and disputed, not always fluent jumping, strongly pressed approaching straight, soon headed and no impression
chased leaders, 4th from 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, 5th before straight, kept on same pace from before last
held up and a little keen, 7th from 3rd, no impression from before straight, soon no extra
chased leaders, 5th from 3rd, closed up travelling smoothly approaching straight, soon led, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in
It's hard to know what to make of the unbeaten Shanning, a winner on the Flat in France and of a maiden hurdle at Sligo for Willie Mullins, though she gets all the allowances and has to be respected. Joseph O'Brien saddles two with Hardback, another Sligo winner, who fell at the last when leading at Clonmel, having to concede weight to MISCHIEVIOUS MAX, beaten a neck by On The Go Again in a tough handicap at Listowel. That winner completed a four-timer when scoring on the Flat subsequently so the form looks strong enough for this. Dundrum Lad has been in superb form and completed a double over this track and trip last month and his young rider's claim is a real bonus. None of the remainder are easily dismissed in what should be an informative contest.
Hardback (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd from 6th, not fluent 3 out, on terms approaching straight, soon led, slight mistake 2 out and pressed, still just in front when fell last, at Clonmel 2m 4f gd in Sep.
All's Quiet (IRE) 7-2fav (8-12) Mid-division early, ran freely, improved to chase leader after 2 1/2f, disputed after 5f, led 5f out, pressed 3f out, ridden in lead 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, lost 3rd closing stages, 4th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Ted Veale (9-12) at Listowel 1m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
Special Diamond 2-1 (11-3) Settled behind leaders in 3rd, improved to challenge entering straight, disputed 2 out, ridden before last, mistake last and headed, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Morgan (11-10) at Wexford 2m gd in Jun.
Mischievious Max (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Always prominent, led 1st, slight mistake and headed 4th, disputed again from 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, ridden and headed before last where slight mistake, under pressure and kept on well run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, nk behind On The Go Again (10-8) at Listowel 2m hcp hvy in Sep.
Fort Montagu (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Close up, 3rd at 5th, dropped to 4th and ridden after 3 out, weakened to 5th before 2 out, no extra, last of 5, 30 1/4l behind The Game Changer (11-12) at Listowel 2m hvy in Sep.
Dundrum Lad (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 2nd after 2 out, stayed on well run-in to lead close home, won at Galway 2m hcp sft in Sep beating Oskar High (10-6) by 1l, 15 ran.
Roachdale House (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 13 3/4l behind Kilkeaskins First (10-5) at Navan 2m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Shanning (FR) 1-3fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, a little keen, 4th halfway, closed up and on terms approaching straight, soon led, pressed and stayed on best run-in, won at Sligo 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Aug beating Amarillo Rose (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
