always prominent, 3rd halfway, headway on inner to lead briefly entering straight, narrowly headed before last, regained lead early run-in, kept on well under pressure
held up towards rear on inner, mistake 4 out, went 5th before 2 out, driven along in 4th approaching last, no impression under pressure run-in
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra approaching 2 out, weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 4 out, driven along in 6th 2 out, soon no extra
mid-division on outer, 6th halfway, no extra approaching 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
always towards rear, 7th halfway, no extra from 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 7 out, 4th when not fluent 2 out, ridden and no impression in 5th at last, stayed on well under pressure closing stages, not reach winner
led and attempted to make all, headed briefly entering straight, rallied to narrowly lead again before last, headed and edged right under pressure run-in, no extra closing stages
always prominent, 2nd halfway, 3rd and ridden entering straight, kept on one pace under pressure run-in
An impressive line-up which should go some way to sorting out the pecking order amongst staying novices. Tony McCoy partners Head Of The Posse, a Grade 3 winner at Galway before finding Jessies Dream and Realt Dubh too strong in the Drinmore where Mikael D'Haguenet fell at the last. He looks certain to go well while it was no disgrace for Chicago Grey to finish runner-up to the exciting Time For Rupert at Cheltenham and there's no doubts about him staying the trip. Quito De La Roque looked a very bright prospect on his chasing bow at Clonmel and can only improve but Noel Meade, who has won this for the past two years, can complete a hat-trick via THEGREATJOHNBROWNE. An easy winner of both starts over fences at Punchestown where he has made most and jumped superbly, he looks the real deal and will take some beating despite this being a step-up in grade. Magnanimity and Bostons Angel have both finished behind the selection and appear held.
Bostons Angel (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, dropped to 6th before 4 out, no extra under pressure before 2 out where left moderate 5th, left distant 4th after last, 4th of 9, 30l behind Jessies Dream (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) sft.
Chicago Grey (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up behind, headway when mistake 4 out, chased leading pair next, soon ridden, went 2nd last, kept on, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Time For Rupert (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gs.
Elysian Rock 11-2 (11-1) Soon tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead after 5 out, narrowly headed last, kept on best to lead again run-in, won at Thurles 3m chs sft in Nov beating Apt Approach (11-6) by 1l, 7 ran.
Head Of The Posse (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up, 6th halfway, went 4th before 4 out, close up when blundered 2 out, left moderate 3rd after last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Jessies Dream (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) sft.
Healys Bar (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Veered left start and very slowly away, in touch in rear from 2nd, ridden and weakened from 5 out, mistake 3 out, completely tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Thegreatjohnbrowne (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 6f nov chs Grd 3 (1) in Nov.
Quadrillon (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Made all, slightly slow jump 5 out, pressed straight, jumped right last, stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f nov chs hvy in Nov beating Pay The Bounty (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Quito De La Roque (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Always prominent, led 3 out, strongly pressed before 2 out, soon ridden, in command when jumped left at last, kept on well, won at Clonmel 2m 4f beg chs beating Time Electric (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Thegreatjohnbrowne (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Made all, jumped well, drew clear 3 out, stayed on well, very easily, won at Punchestown 2m 6f nov chs Grd 3 (1) in Nov beating Tharawaat (10-13) by 7l, 5 ran.
Western Charmer (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Soon led, joined at last, stayed on best under pressure to assert run-in, won at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs sft in Nov beating Uncle Junior (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Magnanimity (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, challenged 3 out, ridden and no real impression after next, took advantage of leaders slow jump at last to lead, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs in Nov beating Arabella Boy (11-11) by 2l, 18 ran.
