soon led at very slow pace, ran slightly off bend after 3rd, joined from 4th, just headed and pecked last, no extra, one pace
soon raced in 3rd at very slow pace, 2nd from 3rd, on terms from 4th, headed from last and one pace
led early at very slow pace, soon raced in 2nd, 3rd from 3rd, slight mistake 3 out, on terms on outer next travelling smoothly, led from last, pushed out to assert run-in and stayed on well
soon in rear at very slow pace, no danger approaching 3 out, no extra from next
held up in 4th at very slow pace, pushed along into straight, no impression 2 out, soon no extra
Willie Mullins won this with Douvan in 2014 and will be hoping SHARJAH can follow suit. A winner on the all-weather in France, he made a very impressive hurdling debut on heavy ground here in September and looks set for a successful campaign. Roaring Bull beat a huge field in a Punchestown bumper in April and returned to action with a very easy victory on his hurdling bow at Tipperary so he's an obvious danger. Shady Operator appeared to find 2m4f just stretching his stamina at Punchestown but had no problems going one better over this trip at Cork and should make this an interesting contest. His stable companion Paris Texas faces a very stiff test on his racecourse debut and Epsilon Indi looks outclassed.
Roaring Bull (IRE) 2-7fav (11-8) Always prominent, disputed 2nd before 4th, on terms from before 3 out, led before next where jumped slightly right and travelling smoothly, asserted and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Tipperary 2m mdn sft in Oct beating Cash In Mind (11-12) by 7 1/2l, 13 ran.
Shady Operator (IRE) 4-5fav (11-7) Tracked leader, 5th after 4 out, headway 3 out, improved to 2nd 2 out, progress to lead narrowly at last, asserted run-in, comfortably, won at Cork 2m mdn sft in Nov beating Castlebrook (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 23 ran.
Sharjah (FR) Evensfav (11-7) Led early, headed 2nd, regained lead 3 out, went clear approaching last, shaken up briefly run-in, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hvy in Sep beating Great Trango (11-7) by 5l, 19 ran.
Epsilon Indi (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, weakened and tailed off, 15th of 18, dist behind Doldido (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 1f mdn sft in Sep.
Paris Texas (FR) Kapgarde gelding out of Parice De La Borie.
