chased leaders, 3rd halfway, left 2nd 4th, improved to lead 2 out, ridden and kept on from before last, headed run-in and no extra
mid-division, headway into 9th 2 out, ridden entering straight, no impression in 4th last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 8th halfway, 4th 4 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra before last
held up towards rear, ridden into 10th 2 out, no impression in 6th last, kept on same pace
mid-division best, never a factor
mid-division best, ridden in 15th 2 out, no impression
towards rear for most, never a factor
chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, ridden in 11th 2 out, under pressure in 9th entering straight, 5th last, kept on same pace
always towards rear
towards rear, some late headway straight, never a factor
mid-division, weakened halfway, pulled up before 4 out (burst blood vessel)
chased leader in 2nd, fell 4th
mid-division best, ridden in 16th 2 out, no impression
mid-division best, never a factor
chased leaders, 9th halfway, ridden and no extra before 2 out
mid-division best, ridden and no impression before straight, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 10th halfway, headway into 5th 2 out, ridden in 7th entering straight, no impression and kept on one pace
held up towards rear, headway into 12th 2 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 7th halfway, headway into 3rd 2 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra before last, kept on same pace
always towards rear
disputed early, soon chased leaders, 11th halfway, weakened 3 out
soon led, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra and weakened entering straight
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 2 out
mid-division, slightly hampered 1st and towards rear, headway in 14th entering straight, ridden into 3rd last, stayed on to lead run-in, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway into 13th 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace
mid-division, headway into 6th 2 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, 2nd last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and weakened entering straight
mid-division best, never a factor
mid-division, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace
With such a lucrative prize on offer it's no surprise that some of these appear to have been primed. Cass Bligh beat Citizenship, Scottish Boogie and Cothrom Na Feinne here at Christmas but it's Scottish Boogie who has been all the rage in the ante-post market after an eye-catching run. Make A Track is a progressive novice who beat the well-regarded Ceol Rua at Gowran last month though Charlie Swan couldn't have picked a much tougher race for him to make his handicap debut. ZAARITO is given the vote at a big price as though he hasn't been seen over hurdles since 2009 he's made great strides over fences and can run from a 21lb lower mark over timber. It's 10 years since a horse carried more than 11st to victory which gives Plan A a very stiff task but he's a useful and experienced performer who looks to have had his season geared towards this. Quiscover Fontaine had Pires and Dul Ar An Ol close behind when scoring here last month and the latter, who was on a hat-trick, may come out best of the trio this time.
Staying Article (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, good headway to lead after 3 out, went clear 2 out, reduced lead when slow jump at last, headed early flat and ridden, rallied well to regain lead close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl sft in Dec beating Montan (11-3) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Sweet My Lord (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Held up in rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven along in 7th entering straight, kept on one pace without threatening, 4th of 25, 12l behind Jetson (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Cass Bligh (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to challenge entering straight, ridden to lead before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 in Dec beating Citizenship (10-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Plan A (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, niggled along before straight, soon no impression, mistake last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Trifolium (11-3) at Limerick 2m 4yo hdl hvy in Dec.
Tawaagg 4-6fav (11-5) Settled behind leaders in 5th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden into 3rd 2 out, no impression before last, weakened run-in, 6th of 8, 31l behind Springfield Way (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl in Dec.
Flycorn (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Waited with in rear for much, 5th under pressure before last, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 5th of 6, 17l behind Monksland (11-0) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1).
Little Green (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders in 4th, left in 3rd after 4 out, 2nd and challenged from before 2 out, soon struggling to match winner, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Final Approach (11-12) at Cork 2m hdl hvy.
Mister Carter (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Raced in 3rd, ridden before straight, soon no impression, mistake last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Trifolium (11-3) at Limerick 2m 4yo hdl hvy in Dec.
Make A Track (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Raced 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, ridden from next, disputed lead from last, kept on well under pressure, led near line, won at Gowran Park 2m nov hdl sft in Dec beating Ceol Rua (11-5) by hd, 5 ran.
Zaarito (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Led, headed approaching 4 out, soon beaten, eased, blundered 2 out, 5th of 7, 31l behind Medermit (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Quiscover Fontaine (FR) 9-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, jumped awkwardly right 1st, pushed along to lead narrowly 2 out, ridden and tried to assert early straight, strongly pressed at last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl gd in Dec beating Pires (11-2) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Moville (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Waited with, closed to track leaders 4 out, soon 3rd, struggling from before last, chance again run-in, kept on same pace closing stages, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Luke's Benefit (10-4) at Naas 2m hcp chs 0-130.
Baracas (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Chased leading trio, tracked leading pair after 5th, still pressing leaders 2 out, no extra flat, kept on to press for 3rd closing stages, 4th of 13, 8l behind Brampour (10-8) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Madame Mado (FR) 17-2 (11-5) Towards rear, 8th halfway, 5th 2 out, soon no extra under pressure, beaten when blundered last, 7th of 9, 34l behind Our Girl Salley (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hdl G3 (1) gd in Dec.
Pires 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway into 4th early straight, 3rd at last, kept on under pressure run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Quiscover Fontaine (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m hdl gd in Dec.
What A Charm (IRE) 5-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, dropped to 7th before 2 out, ridden and some headway into 6th before last, kept on under pressure run-in without troubling first 2, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Our Girl Salley (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hdl G3 (1) gd in Dec.
Wilde Wit Pleasure (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Mid-division, 5th 2 out, soon went 2nd and challenged at last, kept on same pace under pressure without getting on terms, dropped to 3rd late run-in, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Quiscover Fontaine (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m hdl gd in Dec.
Dul Ar An Ol (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, 6th 2 out, ridden and went 4th before last, kept on one pace without threatening principals, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Quiscover Fontaine (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m hdl gd in Dec.
Miss Nomer (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Raced in 3rd, struggling from 3 out, no impression and kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 4, 23l behind So Young (11-12) at Thurles 2m Lstd hdl hvy in Dec.
Askthemaster (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd 2 out, led early straight, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Dec beating Harold's Cross (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Scottish Boogie (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th 2 out, ridden into 5th before last, 4th last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Cass Bligh (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 in Dec.
Beau Michael 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders mainly 7th, never a factor, kept on one pace in straight, 5th of 9, 6l behind Quiscover Fontaine (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m hdl gd in Dec.
Cothrom Na Feinne (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Led, challenged before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 4l behind Cass Bligh (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 in Dec.
Rory Anna (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened 3 out, last of 14, well behind Dare To Doubt (11-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Nov.
Citizenship 10-1 (10-4) Held up early, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, 3rd before last, kept on to press winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Cass Bligh (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 in Dec.
Peak Raider (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway into 5th approaching straight, ridden and no extra from last, 7th of 11, 5l behind Arklow Ger (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp chs sft in Dec.
Leah Claire (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, headway to lead entering straight, headed before last where mistake, no impression in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Star Of Aragon (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m nov hcp hdl 80-116 gd in Dec.
Temlett (IRE) 11-2fav (10-5) Made all, clear early, mistake 3 out, stayed on best under pressure run-in, won at Cork 2m hcp hdl in Mar beating Echo Bob (10-3) by 2l, 14 ran.
Strain Of Fame (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden into 5th entering straight, 4th before last, 5th and no extra last, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 5l behind Cass Bligh (11-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 in Dec.
Steel Park (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Towards rear, 8th 2 out, good headway on inner into 4th before last, no impression and kept on one pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Askthemaster (11-11) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 sft in Dec.
