always towards rear, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened and tailed off
chased leader, 2nd halfway, close 3rd when fell 2 out
settled behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out, left moderate 4th next and 3rd last
made all, slight mistake 6th, ridden to assert before last where left clear, eased run-in
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved into 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner before last, fell last
always towards rear, not fluent early, ridden and no extra before 3 out, behind when unseated rider last
settled behind leaders, moderate 4th halfway, closer after 3 out, left 3rd and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, no impression before last where left 2nd and slightly hampered, kept on one pace
held up, mistake 1st, moderate 6th halfway, slow 3 out, soon no extra, pulled up before next
towards rear for most, ridden and no impression before 3 out, moderate 5th entering straight, left 4th last, never a factor
KLASSICAL DREAM had a brilliant novice hurdle campaign with three Grade 1 victories but was beaten when odds-on at Punchestown in November and ran a shocker in the Matheson Hurdle here a year ago. He makes his chasing bow and connections will be hoping he can put last year's problems behind him. Jeremy's Flame hasn't had much luck so far over fences but ran well enough in a Cork Grade 3 last time to suggest she can get into contention though January Jets could be the one to take advantage if the selection doesn't come up to scratch as he's chased home high-class opposition in his two runs over fences. Defi Bleu only won once over hurdles but is rated 140 after a narrow defeat at Grade 2 level and he made a fine start over fences behind Blackbow at Navan.
Dakota Beat (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Always towards rear, slightly hampered at 1st, never a factor, 16th of 17, dist behind Captain Guinness (12-0) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
Defi Bleu (FR) 11-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, 3rd 5 out, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, no extra, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 12 3/4l behind Blackbow (12-0) at Navan 2m 1f sft in Nov.
Ificudiwud (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden in 5th 3 out, no impression, 5th of 17, dist behind Captain Guinness (12-0) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
January Jets (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Waited with, 7th after 5th, moderate 5th from 4 out, not match principals approaching straight, soon headway, kept on without matching front pair from before last, 3rd of 11, 6 1/4l behind Janidil (12-0) at Naas 2m 3f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Jungle Junction (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd 3 out, 3rd entering straight, no impression on leaders 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 17, 32 3/4l behind Captain Guinness (12-0) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
Old Town Road (IRE) 150-1 (9-12) Slowly away, raced in rear, under pressure and detached approaching straight, no impression, never a factor, 12th of 14, 30 1/4l behind Bluebeard's Castle (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Nov.
Soviet Pimpernel (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Prominent in 3rd, slightly slow 2nd and at times after, 2nd from 7th, mistake next, bad mistake 4 out, lost place from before 2 out and not fluent, pulled up before last, at Tipperary 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Jeremys Flame (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Raced in detached rear, closed up on field at 3rd, progress before 3 out, 3rd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on principals at last where not fluent, ridden and kept on without threatening, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Mount Ida (10-13) at Cork 2m 1f (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Slainte And Thanks (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Led and disputed, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon no extra and weakened over 2f out, last of 14, dist behind Nightly Wailing (9-8) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Nov.
Klassical Dream (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Disputed lead, jumped big 4th and stumbled badly on landing, soon lost place and pushed along in 4th after next, headway before 2 out, soon no extra and in rear entering straight, eased, last of 5, dist behind Sharjah (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Dec.
