towards rear, pushed along and no impression in 4th from 4 out, kept on same pace from next
chased leader in 2nd, pushed along to challenge from 3 out and improved to dispute lead from next, ridden and headed from last, no extra and kept on same pace close home
led, not fluent 6 out, jumped left 3 out and soon pushed along, joined next where pecked slightly and ridden, regained lead from last and kept on best run-in
raced mainly in 3rd, no impression before 3 out and kept on same pace from next
towards rear, slow jump 2nd, hampered 3rd, not fluent in rear 5 out, no impression from next
chased leaders when fell 3rd
BUDDY RICH, a dual hurdles winner, made a very promising start over fences behind the smart Bleu Berry at Listowel and will take the world of beating here. Dancing On My Own had some very smart form over timber in 2018 and 2019, winning a Wexford maiden by 28 lengths and finishing a close fourth in a Leopardstown Grade 1. He's been off almost two years but has plenty of time on his side. Magnium, beaten a neck by the classy Easy Game in a Navan Grade 3 over timber in 2018, has become very frustrating and changed stables. West Cork Wildway, unbeaten in two runs between the flags and in one bumper start, has won twice over hurdles and makes his chasing debut.
Balaclava (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division on outer, some headway after 4 out, pushed along and no extra after 2 out, 16th of 20, 32 1/4l behind Dragon's Pass (11-1) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Buddy Rich (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, some headway in 4th when slight mistake 7th, 3rd 3 out, pushed along and went 2nd next, soon no impression on winner, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Bleu Berry (12-0) at Listowel 2m 1f Good - Yielding in Sep.
Dancing On My Own (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 6th, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last, 6th of 8, 20 1/2l behind Thyme Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Nov.
Magnium (IRE) 16-5fav (11-9) Held up, ridden into moderate 6th entering straight, kept on one pace from last, 4th of 9, 16 1/2l behind Steer Clear (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f Good - Yielding in Mar.
Rocky's Howya (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, mid-division when fell 3 out, at Sligo 2m 4f gd in Sep.
West Cork Wildway (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) In rear, reminder after 4 out, some headway on outer approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression in rear entering straight, no extra, 6th of 7, 18l behind Macgiloney (11-4) at Galway 2m 5f gd in Sep.
