towards rear, 6th at 3rd, 4th at 5th, 6th at 6th, dropped to 8th 2 out, no extra
raced 4th, 5th at 5th, 4th at 6th, 5th 2 out, 6th and not fluent last, soon ridden, kept on over 1f out to 4th closing stages
in rear, 9th at 3rd, 8th after 7th, progress to 6th 2 out, 5th at last, soon ridden in 7th, no impression leaders, kept on same pace
soon tracked leader in 2nd, led at 3rd, driven after last, under pressure and headed inside final furlong, ridden and rallied to lead closing stages, kept on best
ran 5th, not fluent 2nd, 7th on outer at 5th, 5th at 6th, progress to 3rd 2 out where mistake, ridden into 2nd at last, no extra under 2f out, kept on same pace
rear of mid-division, not fluent 2nd, 7th after 3rd, 8th at 5th, 9th after 7th, ridden in 10th after 4 out, detached 2 out, no extra
prominent in 3rd, soon tracked leaders, 4th 2 out, ridden after last, progress to 3rd over 1f out, kept on, not trouble principals
mid-division, fell 1st
soon led, 2nd at 3rd, reminders after 8th, pushed along after 3 out, 3rd at last, soon ridden, weakened under 2f out, eased over 1f out
mid-division, not fluent in 7th at 3rd, soon 8th, 6th at 5th, 7th at 6th, not fluent 7th, 7th at last, good headway to 2nd under 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, kept on, headed closing stages
Battling Boru had only looked moderate in novice company before staying on gamely to score over this trip at Downpatrick. He makes his handicap debut over fences and is on a fair mark. Abarta's two victories last month were over much further and this looks on the short side but the bottom three in the weights all won last time and the winner should come from there. BENDALA BLEU had been threatening to win for a long time before finally doing so at Listowel and with Donagh Meyler's claim a massive bonus he can complete a double. Whisky Galore was having his 14th start over fences when finally getting off the mark at Sligo and though Venture Lazarus was undoubtedly a lucky winner at Tipperary as Lilly The Lioness fell at the last when clear it was still a decent performance and with just 3lb extra he should be in the mix.
Afatcat 20-1 (10-4) Towards rear, progress on inner 3 out and 5th next, no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 5th of 20, 8 1/4l behind Phil The Flyer (11-7) at Tipperary 2m hcp gd in Oct.
It's All An Act (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Slight mistake 1st, prominent, 5th early, on terms from 6th, not much room into straight, soon headed and one pace, 10th of 15, 10 3/4l behind Comehere Hi (11-2) at Punchestown 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Tavern Times (IRE) 5-1fav (11-10) Soon ran 6th, 5th after 8th, 4th at 9th, mistake 3 out, dropped to 5th 2 out, no extra, pulled up before last, at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp gd in Sep.
Ballyfinboy (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Led, headed 4 out, soon ridden, no extra after 3 out, 9th of 13, 18l behind Gentleman Duke (11-0) at Cork 2m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
Battling Boru (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd after 3 out, under pressure in 2nd when slight mistake at last, stayed on well final furlong and improved to lead close home, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f gd in Oct beating Mustadrik (11-3) by 3l, 8 ran.
Rightville Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led, inclined to jump left, headed from 11th, soon dropped to 4th, no extra next where not fluent, weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Lord Scoundrel (11-12) at Limerick 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Polish Partisan (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, progress to 3rd at 3rd, 2nd 2 out where not fluent, ridden and dropped to 4th before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 7 1/2l behind King of The Picts (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Oct.
Abarta (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, slightly slow 7th, 4th from 9th, close up in 2nd 5 out, on terms briefly from 3 out, soon headed, no impression and one pace approaching last, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Much Wants More (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
Bendala Bleu 11-2 (11-1) Settled behind leaders early, towards rear from halfway, progress 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, 2nd 2 out, stayed on to lead before last, kept on well run-in, won at Listowel 2m 1f hcp sft in Sep beating Mark Me Up (11-3) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Whisky Galore 12-1 (9-11) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead 5 out, ridden 2 out, soon pressed, stayed on well run-in, won at Sligo 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Sep beating Dandridge (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Venture Lazarus (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Settled behind leaders in 4th, closer from 7th, progress into 2nd 4 out, ridden entering straight, challenged and slight mistake 2 out, no impression on leader before last, left in lead and clear last, kept on, won at Tipperary 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Oct beating The Conker Club (11-5) by 7l, 8 ran.
