in touch, weakened 2 out
held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
mistake 1st, chased leaders, led 6th, headed 2 out, one pace
with leader and keen, led 3rd, headed 6th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up behind, headway 5 out, led last, stayed on strongly, driven out
tracked leaders, weakened after 5 out
led to 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 5 out
tracked leaders, lost place halfway
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 5 out
held up, headway 9th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
held up, headway 7th, led 2 out, headed last, kept on
Comhla Ri Coig should be in the mix and can make the most of the weight that he receives from Manadam but it may pay to side with OCKEY DE NEULLIAC given his trainer's remarks following his debut success. He battled on well to land what appeared to be an interesting contest and prompted his trainer to remark that he's potentially top class; there was the usual caveat that he was a horse for the future and a chaser in the making but he should still make his mark over hurdles in the meantime. So many of the yard's horses improve for their initial experience and it's reasonable to expect this French bred gelding to do so too although a slight doubt is the drop back in trip on a track that's recently been likened to a motorcycle track. Manadam and Comhla Ri Coig should be on the premises whilst Ballysimon is an interesting recruit from the Irish point field having not finished too far behind Penharold and Presenting Forever on the first of his three starts. Others to enter calculations include Strong Rebel, Farmers Cross and Be Brief but we'll stick with Ockey De Neuillac.
Manadam (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Always prominent, challenged when not fluent 3 out, ridden after next, one pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 16, 8l behind Glenary (9-11) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Nov.
Ockey De Neulliac (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 4 out, led after last, stayed on flat, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) sft in Nov beating Prince De Beauchene (11-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Ballysimon (IRE) Great Palm gelding out of Sister Mary.
Be Brief 16-1 (10-12) Led to 3 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Fredo (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Cawarra Red 66-1 (10-4) Held up, headway after 6f, soon hung left, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Wychwoods Legend (10-0) at Stratford 2m nhf (5) gf in Sept '07, 13 ran.
Comhla Ri Coig 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pulled hard, headway to lead approaching 4th, not fluent 9th, blundered 2 out, soon headed, weakened last, hung left flat, 4th of 10, 9l behind Gypsy George (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Farmers Cross (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) In touch, weakened over 3f out, 8th of 16, 34l behind Flemmingsbond (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nhf (4) gs in Nov.
Go Commercial (IRE) 250-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out, last of 13, well behind Red Moloney (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Jayne's Crusader 50-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 14, 19l behind Dzesmin (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Johns Square (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2 out, 10th of 15, 45l behind Finney (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs.
Mighty Magnus (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 15, 25l behind Touch of Irish (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nhf (6) gs in Jan.
Strong Rebel (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 15, 34l behind The Gossmoor Yank (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Western Whisky (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, not jumped well throughout, headway when blundered 2 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 12, 8l behind By George (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
My Friend Sandy 33-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, hit 1st, headway 7th, struggling after next, 10th of 18, 37l behind Ambrosinni (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
