chased leaders, briefly impeded approaching 4th, 6th approaching 5th, 4th approaching straight, soon ridden and kept on same pace
held up, soon towards rear, progress from before final hurdle, kept on same pace without threatening from before straight
held up, 12th approaching 5th, no extra straight
tracked leaders, 5th approaching 5th, 6th approaching straight, soon no impression
soon disputed lead, led from final hurdle, headed inside final furlong, soon no extra, one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd approaching 5th, 2nd approaching straight, soon ridden to challenge, kept on well final furlong to lead closing stages
tracked leaders, 4th approaching 5th where slightly slow, 3rd approaching straight, challenged and on terms inside final furlong, soon headed and kept on without matching 1st 2
mistake and unseated rider 1st
held up, soon towards rear, not fluent 6th, not fluent 7th and no extra, completely tailed off
held up, 8th approaching 5th, slight mistake 6th, went 5th approaching straight, soon ridden and kept on well without matching winner inside final furlong
held up, not fluent 4th, 11th approaching 5th where slight mistake, soon headway, slight mistake final hurdle, no impression straight
held up, 10th approaching 5th, effort and not much room before straight, soon chased leaders, ran on without threatening inside final furlong
soon disputed lead, mistake 6th, headed from final hurdle, weakened straight
held up, mistake at 3rd hurdle jumped, 9th approaching 5th, pulled up quickly after 6th
held up towards rear, took keen hold and closer order after 2nd, 7th approaching 5th, ridden straight, ran on well closing stages
Francin won twice on the Flat in France last summer and has joined Willie Mullins. A long absence is rarely a problem for one from his yard so the market should be monitored. Tower Bridge won two bumpers on summer ground and started favourite for his hurdling debut at Down Royal but never looked like winning and will need major improvement here. DAYBREAK BOY made good progress on the Flat during the summer and ran very well on his debut over timber at Cork, staying on strongly over the minimum trip. He looks certain to improve again and gets the nod over Flawless Escape, a winning bumper who also made a fine start over hurdles when chasing home the odds-on Burrows Saint at Punchestown with Jetez back in third.
Best Behavior (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division and 4th from 3 out, pushed along after next and no impression in 3rd from before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 12 1/2l behind Dom Dolo (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 6f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Border Control (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Settled mid-division, ridden into 5th 2f out, no impression in 4th over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Champagne Paddy (11-5) at Roscommon 2m Yielding - Soft in Jun.
Commandant (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division early, 8th after 4th, moderate 7th approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 8th of 18, dist behind Real Steel (11-2) at Thurles 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Cut Em Down (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, closer in 5th 5f out, ridden in 4th 3f out, no impression, 5th of 9, dist behind Defi Bleu (11-11) at Navan 2m sft in Dec.
Daybreak Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, 4th after 4 out, 5th 3 out, headway to 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders, ran on run-in without threatening, 3rd of 23, 5 1/4l behind Shady Operator (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Flawless Escape 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, some slight mistakes, 5th approaching 4th, mistake 2 out, 2nd approaching straight, every chance and kept on well run-in without quite matching winner, went left at line, 2nd of 19, 1/2l behind Burrows Saint (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Francin (FR) (9-4) won at Lyon-Parilly 1m 4f stks hvy in Jun beating Pompeii (8-13) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Heroesandvillains 7-1 (11-9) Prominent, led after opening couple of furlongs, ridden and joined straight, headed over 2f out, soon no extra, one pace, 4th of 15, 20 1/2l behind Downtown Getaway (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m sft in Dec.
Incredible Black (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression from 3f out, never a factor, 7th of 11, dist behind Peacocks Secret (12-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f sft in Sep.
Jetez (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 8th approaching 4th, went 3rd approaching straight, soon attempted to challenge between horses, flicked tail and no impression run-in, one pace, 3rd of 19, 7 1/2l behind Burrows Saint (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Momus (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, 3rd aftr a mile & gng well 6out, cl 2nd aftr 4out until drpd 4th & btn aftr 2out, wknd, 4th of 11, 19l behind Felix Desjy (11-11) at Dromahane 3m mdn sft in Mar.
Not Many Left (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Prominent, soon led and disputed, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon no extra in 3rd and kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 31l behind Hollowgraphic (11-9) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
Pincer Movement (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway into 5th and ridden 2 out, soon no extra, 7th of 21, 17 3/4l behind Speak Easy (11-7) at Navan 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Pluto Montes (IRE) 66-1 (11-9) Mid-division, moderate 13th 3 out, kept on without threatening from next, never a factor, 8th of 25, 32l behind Discorama (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn sft in Dec.
Tower Bridge (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-9) Mid-division, pushed along and no impression after 4 out, not fluent next, no extra, jumped left and slow 2 out, eased, 10th of 16, dist behind Ten Ten (11-9) at Down Royal 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Bazarov (IRE) 66-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching straight, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 15, dist behind Downtown Getaway (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m sft in Dec.
Kalamkan (USA) 25-1 (8-13) Raced in 7th early, dropped towards rear over 4f out, no extra straight, eased over 1f out, last of 14, 31 3/4l behind Alcander (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
