led, headed 3rd, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out, soon lost place, 13th before 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
mid-division early, 7th halfway, headway into 3rd after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led entering straight, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra and kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders early, 10th halfway, weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway in 6th 3 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, led approaching last, kept on well under pressure run-in
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra and weakened
rear of mid-division, headway into 8th 2 out, ridden in 10th and no extra entering straight, weakened
mid-division, headway into 7th 2 out, ridden in 8th entering straight, no extra in 6th last, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway in 7th 3 out, close 4th 2 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, no extra before last where 5th, kept on same pace
chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and challenged 2 out, headed entering straight, weakened
mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden in 7th before 2 out, no extra in 11th 2 out, kept on one pace straight
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 2 out, kept on same pace in 4th last, no extra run-in
towards rear, pulled up after 5th
chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 10th 2 out, stayed on to 7th last, no impression, kept on same pace
towards rear for most, never a factor
always towards rear
mid-division, headway into 9th 2 out, ridden in 7th entering straight, stayed on in 3rd last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
towards rear, ridden in 14th before 2 out, no impression, kept on one pace straight
Ephorus is progressing fast and should make a bold bid, though he's been raised 5lb for his recent success in a novices' handicap at Tramore over the minimum trip. Golan Guy owes his supporters a packet as he's been a beaten favourite in three of his last four starts and didn't impress at Down Royal when last seen in November. This is the right trip for Baron De Feypo and the handicapper has given him a chance. He can go well here despite not having won since 2007 but TALKIN' TOUGH was returning from a very long absence when running a sound race behind Might Be Magic at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. He led for most of that two mile event before fading and that will have brought him to the boil for this. Falcon Island is a lightly-raced type who is running well enough to get involved, while the veteran Ring Street Roller is ideally suited by the trip and ground so can prove a threat from the bottom of the handicap. Sizing Africa is better known as a chaser but is 28lb lower over timber and is another to consider.
Grandad Bill (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, 8th of 13, 25l behind Diklers Oscar (10-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Politeo (FR) 20-1 (9-8) Mid-division, 10th 4 out, 9th and ridden 2 out, stayed on from last, 5th of 24, 6l behind The Shepherd (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Dec.
Hoopy (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Always towards rear, no extra from 2 out, last of 7, 23l behind Four Chimneys (9-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Bruach Na Mara (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Towards rear, some progress 4 out, 9th after 2 out, ridden and stayed on well, 4th of 24, 6l behind The Shepherd (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Dec.
Empire Theatre (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Rear of mid-division, 12th 5 out, no extra from before 3 out, 22nd of 24, well behind The Shepherd (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Dec.
Glam Gerry (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up, 10th after 3 out, moderate 6th after 2 out, no impression when slight mistake last, 6th of 15, 14l behind Shot From The Hip (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 2f mdn hdl sft in Dec.
Kirbybroguelantern (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Settled 2nd, mistake 1st, weakened quickly after 3 out, 15th of 19, well behind Benash (11-12) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23.
Brave Betsy (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Prominent, 4th approaching halfway, 6th 4 out, weakened 2 out, eased from last, 18th of 24, 43l behind The Shepherd (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Dec.
Falcon Island 9-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, headway into 9th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace, 5th of 20, 6l behind Turner Brown (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 hvy.
Action Master 14-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, some progress into 8th before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 11th of 19, 44l behind Benash (11-12) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23.
Talkin' Tough (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Led, ridden and strongly pressed when mistake 2 out, soon headed, no extra in 3rd at last, weakened run-in, 4th of 9, 13l behind Might Be Magic (9-13) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 8Evens30.
Ephorus (USA) 4-5fav (11-11) Close up in 2nd, led from 4th, clear from 5 out, reduced advantage and ridden before 2 out, stayed on under pressure from last, won at Tramore 2m nov hcp hdl 80-109 hvy beating Celtic Carol (10-3) by 3l, 7 ran.
Mubrook (USA) 14-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, 21st of 26, well behind Final Approach (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft.
Pom Flyer (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, ridden and dropped to rear 4 out, no extra and weakened, 6th of 7, 39l behind Rayhani (11-6) at Naas 2m 3f hdl gd in Aug.
Ring Street Roller (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, 3rd approaching straight, ridden to lead before last, soon strongly pressed and headed early run-in, no impression and kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Kylebeg Krystle (11-9) at Cork 2m 4f Mares Handicap Hurdle (80-109) (4yo+) sft.
Tally Em Up (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Raced 3rd early, dropped to last before 5th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Golden Silver (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f chs G2 (1) hvy.
Mission Possible (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Led until fell 3rd, in a race won by Just Friends (11-12) at Thurles 2m beg chase, 15 ran.
Golan Guy (IRE) 5-1fav (11-10) Rear of mid-division, headway in 9th before 3 out, ridden in 6th 3 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 6th of 20, 19l behind Kyoto Summit (10-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-102 sft in Nov.
Mister Farmer (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, took closer order from 3 out, 4th briefly entering straight, soon no extra after 2 out, 8th of 15, 26l behind Trendelenburg (10-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens16.
Baron De Feypo (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Chased leaders on inner, 6th halfway, no extra and weakened after 3 out, 16th of 19, 33l behind Across The Bay (9-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft.
Sizing Africa (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, some headway after 3 out, 6th 2 out, 4th under pressure at last, no impression run-in and kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 8l behind Fool's Wildcat (10-13) at Leopardstown 2m Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-116) (4yo+) in Dec.
