tracked leader in 2nd, awkward 1st, slight mistake 4th, travelled well to lead after last, driven to assert under 2f out, comfortably
led, not fluent 1st, jumped left 6th, slight mistake 4 out, under pressure and headed after last, dropped to 3rd under 2f out, no extra in 4th inside final furlong
settled 4th, not fluent 2nd, soon disputed 3rd, 3rd at 6th, closer in 3rd 2 out, not fluent last, soon driven, progress to 2nd under 2f out, kept on, no impression winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent 1st, soon disputed 3rd, 4th at 6th, not fluent 2 out, ridden and no impression leader after last, some headway to 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Aranhill Rascal has too much to do but the remaining quartet can all be given a chance. Badgerfort unseated his rider on his chasing debut but made no mistake at Sligo where he jumped well and battled on gamely. He'll need to improve again but should be capable of doing so as should My Direction, who showed his true colours with an impressive all-the-way victory at Gowran. Lord Scoundrel did reasonably well over hurdles but looks a chaser and couldn't have been more impressive at Limerick. He'll make further progress but will need to against WAAHEB. Dermot Weld's charge had been making too many mistakes over fences before scoring over 2m7f at Tipperary and though taking a big drop in trip should be suited and just gets the verdict.
Lord Scoundrel (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, 4th from 7th, pushed along to go 2nd approaching straight, soon challenged, led before 2 out where left clear, slight mistake last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m 4f Yielding in Oct beating The Winkler (11-12) by 33l, 7 ran.
My Direction 8-1 (11-11) Disputed lead early, soon led, went on from before 4 out, reduced lead next but soon asserted again and jumped left last 3, stayed on well to maintain advantage run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 2f gd in Oct beating Frontline (11-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Waaheb (USA) 2-1fav (11-12) Settled behind leaders, slight mistake 1st, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, challenged entering straight, led 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well under pressure, won at Tipperary 2m 7f Yielding in Oct beating Georges Conn (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Aranhill Rascal (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leader, slight mistake 4th, 4th from 5th, left 3rd and hampered at 6th, ridden 4 out, no extra in 5th 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 14, dist behind Bashful Beauty (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f sft in Sep.
Badgerfort (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, progress 3 out, 5th next, soon ridden, good headway entering straight, disputed lead approaching last, led after last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Sligo 2m 2f Yielding in Sep beating Vicangelome (11-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
