tracked leader, not fluent 1st, 2nd halfway, no impression on winner before last, ridden and kept on one pace
mid-division on outer, no impression and slight mistake 3 out, no extra
made all, asserted after 2 out, not fluent last, kept on well to draw clear run-in
chased leaders, 7th halfway, no extra after 3 out and moderate 11th entering straight, weakened, tailed off
always rear, detached after 3rd, behind and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, never a factor, no threat from 3 out, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, never a factor, towards rear approaching 3 out, no extra, kept on one pace in straight
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and no impression in 6th entering straight, weakened
rear of mid-division, pushed along and no extra after 4 out, detached and pulled up before next
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd entering straight, bumped by rival 2 out, pushed along and no impression in 5th before last, no extra
rear of mid-division, no impression in moderate 10th entering straight, no extra, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along and no extra approaching straight, weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 5th and slight mistake 2 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace
mid-division, pushed along approaching 3 out, no impression in moderate 9th entering straight, no extra
always towards rear, never a factor, no extra from 3 out, kept on one pace in straight
towards rear, never a factor, went moderate 13th entering straight, kept on one pace from 2 out
mid-division, 8th halfway, slight mistake 3 out and no impression from next, no extra
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden approaching 3 out, no extra and lost place entering straight, weakened
tracked leaders on inner, mistake 1st, not fluent 5th, 6th and mistake 3 out, collided with rival next, ridden and no impression in 3rd approaching last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 9th halfway, ridden and no impression approaching 3 out, weakened, completely tailed off
A huge field but few with realistic chances and it looks another for the champion trainer. AU QUART DE TOUR had been a bit disappointing in bumpers after scoring at Fairyhouse a year ago but would almost certainly have made a successful start over hurdles at Fairyhouse a month ago but for a last-flight fall. He was up with the pace throughout in that 2m4f event so the drop in trip shouldn't pose a problem. Winning point-to-pointer Minella Scamp made a promising debut over hurdles at Fairyhouse where he was in touch for most of the way over slightly further and he'll improve while Noel Meade's Tamlough Boy looked a nice prospect when beating the strongly fancied Blow By Blow from the Mullins yard in a Punchestown bumper. Gordon Elliott's newcomer Automated arrives in good form having scored at Dundalk early last month and he's the type to do well over timber.
Alamein (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in 3rd, dropped to rear before 5 out, soon pushed along, slight mistake 4 out, weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Cork 3m gd in Oct.
Alkaa Lion (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) In rear, under pressure and no impression approaching straight in moderate 7th, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 37 1/2l behind Positive Approach (11-4) at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hvy in Dec.
Au Quart De Tour (FR) Evensfav (11-12) Close up in 2nd, led before 5th, pressed entering straight, strongly pressed and travelled best before last, 1-length advantage when fell last, at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec.
French Ambassador (IRE) 28-1 (12-0) Soon led and disputed, headed after 6f, regained lead 8f out, disputed 5f out, headed 4f out, ridden in 4th 3f out, no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 31l behind Thats Nice (12-0) at Roscommon 2m 4f Yielding in May.
Heart Island (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Raced in 6th, under pressure over 4f out, soon no extra, eased from before straight, completely tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Presentingoscar (12-0) at Thurles 2m sft in Nov.
Heron Heights (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress outer 4f out, no impression in 5th entering straight, no extra over 1f out, 6th of 8, 22 1/2l behind Archive (11-13) at Leopardstown 2m Yielding in Feb.
Iwillifiwant (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Settled behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, closer 3 out, ridden in 5th and no impression before straight, fell 2 out, at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Late Night Jazz 12-1 (11-4) Raced in 5th, pushed along before straight in 6th, soon no impression, weakened, completely tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Positive Approach (11-4) at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hvy in Dec.
Loch Luatha (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra before straight, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind For Freddie (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec.
Minella Scamp (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 8th early, chased leaders and kept on same pace from before 2 out,, 3rd of 19, 19l behind Tombstone (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Pause And Ponder (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Towards rear, 7th halfway, 6th 2 out, no extra entering straight, remote 5th from last, 5th of 9, dist behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec.
Taras Call (IRE) 8-11fav (12-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, edged left under pressure and no impression on winner in 3rd over 1f out, no extra, 4th of 7, 14 1/2l behind Thinkitplanitdoit (12-0) at Tramore 2m gd in Oct.
Automated 5-4 (9-8) Led, headed after 3f, regained lead 3f out, ridden clear under 2f out, reduced advantage inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Dec beating Alamgiyr (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Call Him Bawny (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Mid-division, dropped to 11th 2 out, no impression, never a factor, 16th of 22, dist behind Lift The Latch (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Dixie Highway (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Towards rear early, soon mid-division, ridden into moderate 7th before straight, no impression before 2 out, 7th of 18, dist behind Bello Conti (11-4) at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Game Puppeteer (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Held up early, progress into 2nd at 6th, ridden in 4th before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out, weakened, 4th of 10, dist behind For Freddie (11-4) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec.
Mustadaam (IRE) 66-1 (8-10) Always towards rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 11th of 12, 22 1/2l behind Political Policy (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Jan.
Sir Jack Yeats (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Soon chased leaders in 5th, not fluent 4th, slight mistake 6th, pushed along briefly from 3 out, pushed along again approaching straight, soon no impression, slight mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 26l behind Ball D'arc (11-7) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Tamlough Boy 8-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear early, progress into 6th halfway, ridden in 4th 2f out, challenged 1f out, disputed inside final furlong and edged ahead close home, won at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec beating Blow By Blow (11-9) by nk, 14 ran.
Rathnaleen Girl (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Towards rear, never a factor, tailed off, 15th of 18, dist behind Uranna (11-7) at Limerick 2m 2f mdn hvy in Dec.
Tornado Watch (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Towards rear on outer, slight mistake 2nd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 20th of 22, dist behind Lift The Latch (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Simply Gooch (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Prominent, 3rd approaching halfway where led, headed over 2f out, soon no extra, 5th of 14, 33 1/4l behind Brave Poppy (11-11) at Limerick 2m hvy in Dec.
Highest Benefit (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, ridden from 4f out, 6th 3f out, no impression and kept on one pace from before straight, 6th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Killer Crow (12-0) at Listowel 2m 4f gd in Jun.
