chased leaders, 7th halfway, headway into close 3rd 2 out, led before last, ridden and challenged last, headed run-in and no extra in 3rd closing stages
mid-division, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
rear of mid-division best, never a factor
mid-division, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division early, weakened halfway, tailed off
mid-division, 8th after 3 out, ridden and no extra 2 out
always towards rear, pecked on landing and unseated rider 2 out
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out
held up towards rear, moderate 13th 2 out, kept on one pace straight
always towards rear, pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, headway in 10th 2 out, 6th entering straight, ridden into 3rd and mistake last, stayed on to lead run-in, kept on well close home
chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 7th entering straight, no impression in 4th last, kept on same pace
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 9th halfway, ridden in 10th entering straight, under pressure in 7th before last, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division for most, never a factor, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division best, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led and disputed, ridden 3 out, close up entering straight, no extra before last
held up towards rear, moderate 14th 2 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, 12th 2 out, ridden into 8th last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 6th halfway, close up in 5th 2 out, ridden and no extra entering straight
mid-division, headway in 8th 3 out, 4th 2 out, ridden to challenge last, every chance run-in, no extra in 2nd close home
led and disputed, ridden and headed before last, no extra
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 9th entering straight, kept on same pace in 6th last
mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, some headway into 13th after 3 out, no impression next
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 7th 2 out, under pressure in 5th entering straight, no extra before last
Surprisingly, Talbot Road is the only one of the 27 entries to have won over the track and trip but his maiden success last month suggests he faces a very stiff task here. St Devote was a very promising chaser when last seen in 2011 and is likely to need this and Crocus Bay is looking a bit high in the weights on what he's achieved to date. Ruby Walsh has yet another strong ride, this time on board Tony Martin's Living Next Door, though the form of his mount's victory at Limerick has taken a knock. Shariyan was well supported on his return to action here on St Stephen's Day and ran out a convincing winner. He's been raised 10lb which seems fair enough and the one to take from the race is SAMMY BLACK, who finished a close third on his handicap debut. He's only been raised 3lb for that and with the benefit of the experience can reverse form with the winner and take this.
Talbot Road (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders on outer, 5th halfway, good headway to join issue 2 out, ridden approaching last where led, kept on best under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl sft in Dec beating Thunder And Roses (11-7) by 2l, 12 ran.
Kilavalley (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Prominent in chasing group, one or two slight mistakes, closed to challenge and on terms 3 out, headed next, no extra in 3rd approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Matsukaze (10-9) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 hvy in Dec.
Acapulco (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division throughout, never a factor, 22nd of 30, 44l behind Prince Rudi (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Benny's Fagartha (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Soon chased leaders, 7th 4 out, no impression and kept on same pace next, 6th of 15, 36l behind Come To The Party (10-1) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Nov.
Chino Valdes (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway into 9th after 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace, 11th of 30, 19l behind Prince Rudi (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Tristram Shandy (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Raced alone towards inside for most, waited with, chased leaders and no impression under pressure straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 16l behind Fahamore (11-9) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hdl 80-116 hvy in Dec.
Courageous Cry (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leader in 4th, ridden early straight and no extra from 2 out, 9th of 11, 20l behind Tennis Cap (11-1) at Naas 2m hcp hdl hvy.
Irish Soul (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, headway into 5th after 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra entering straight, kept on one pace, 7th of 30, 13l behind Prince Rudi (10-6) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
The Crafty Butcher (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 4 out, 5th of 7, 28l behind Road To Riches (11-0) at Cork 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Crocus Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd approaching 2 out, soon challenged, not fluent at last, every chance and kept on well run-in, dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Shesonlyahorse (11-3) at Tramore 2m nov hcp hdl 80-109 hvy.
Shariyan (IRE) 4-1fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, 7th after 2 out, 3rd early straight, led last, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Dec beating Blazing Sonnet (10-3) by 3 1/2l, 23 ran.
Chestnut Charlie (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, challenged after 3 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no impression winner before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Barneys Honour (11-5) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 80-109 hvy.
Where's The Dosh (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Always towads rear, 19th of 22, well behind Ten Bob (10-11) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 80-116 hvy in Oct '11.
Pay The Bounty 20-1 (10-3) Mid-division, 9th halfway, no extra from 2 out, 11th of 14, 37l behind Canaly (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Monelissio (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden in 7th 4 out, no impression entering straight, weakened, 8th of 13, well behind Suntiep (11-12) at Navan 2m 7f mdn hdl hvy.
Captain Luke (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistakes, dropped to rear and ridden 4 out, no extra, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Treat Yourself (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m nov hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Dec.
Happy New Year (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) Tracked leaders on inner, mistake 1st, 7th 3 out, soon no extra, 13th of 23, 41l behind Shariyan (10-11) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Dec.
Living Next Door (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd from 4 out and challenged early straight, ridden from 2 out and kept on, stayed on well under pressure to lead final strides, won at Limerick 2m 3f mdn hdl hvy in Nov beating Caballo De Marcus (10-13) by hd, 9 ran.
Brian Who (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Settled in rear, headway into 6th 3 out, pushed along entering straight, went 3rd early run-in and kept on under pressure without troubling winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Missie Ella (10-1) at Thurles 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 80-109 hvy in Dec.
Luck Pennie (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Soon towards rear, no danger and kept on from after 3 out, 9th of 14, well behind All The Way Home (10-13) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp hdl 80-109 hvy.
Sammy Black (GER) 7-1 (10-7) Mid-division, 8th travelling well after 3 out, close up after 2 out, challenged approaching last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 23, 5l behind Shariyan (10-11) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Dec.
Prince Of Milan (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra approaching 3 out, 7th of 15, 31l behind Barneys Honour (11-5) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 80-109 hvy.
Willies Girl (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders in 3rd, no extra from 4 out, weakened, 9th of 15, 39l behind Alf Wright (10-6) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 gd in Oct.
C'est La Mode (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Mid-division, 6th 4 out, headway to challenge early straight, ridden and no impression on winner approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Shanroe Society (10-10) at Thurles 2m hcp hdl 80-95.
Miss Penny Pincher (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, 41l behind Annie Oakley (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mares mdn hdl hvy.
West Council (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, pushed along early straight and soon no extra, moderate 8th before last, 8th of 22, 39l behind Morning Assembly (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f mdn hdl hvy.
St Devote (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, closer in 4th halfway, left 2nd after 3 out, led next, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Roscommon 2m nov chs (1) sft in Sep '11 beating Nakajima Nate (11-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
