settled behind leaders early, towards rear from 4th, closer again 5th, 4th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, no extra next, weakened
tracked leader early, 3rd from 3rd, bad mistake 5th, soon dropped to rear, mistake next and behind, pulled up before 3 out
led, headed after 2nd and tracked leader, slight mistakes 4th and 7th, 2nd halfway, close up and disputed 4 out, slight mistake 2 out, ridden into narrow lead before last, kept on strongly run-in
held up, bad mistake 5th, mistake and behind from next, pulled up before 8th
tracked leader, led after 2nd, slow and jumped left 3rd, mistake 5th and soon headed, 3rd halfway, pushed along briefly after 2 out, challenged entering straight, 2nd and jumped left last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in
held up towards rear, bad mistake 1st, closer from 4th, led after 5th, jumped right 7th, joined 4 out, ridden and headed before last, soon no extra in 3rd
I AM MAXIMUS, a winning bumper and hurdler for Nicky Henderson, started odds-on for his chasing debut for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse but found Minella Crooner a short-head too strong. Largy Debut, who was beaten six lengths, did well to get so close after a bad mistake at the first, is entitled to get closer while Grade 2 winning hurdler Grand Roi also had his jumping problems at Fairyhouse. Gentlemansgame has always looked a potentially useful chaser and is one to keep an eye on.
Decimation (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, disputed lead briefly 3rd, 3rd halfway, 4th 4 out, pushed along and no extra next, soon weakened, 16th of 17, dist behind Capilano Bridge (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Freedom To Dream (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway into 3rd when mistake 3 out, soon pushed along, ridden and no extra from 2 out, 6th of 12, 21 3/4l behind Gerri Colombe (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Nov.
Gentlemansgame 10-1 (11-10) Soon led, 3 lengths clear halfway, slight mistake 4 out and pressed before next, pushed along after 2 out and headed approaching last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Klassical Dream (11-10) at Punchestown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Grand Roi (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, slow jump 2nd, not fluent 7th, 3rd halfway, still in 3rd when fell 3 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 5f gd in Oct.
I Am Maximus (FR) 4-6fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd early, jumped left throughout, slight mistakes 2nd and 3rd, disputed lead from 5th, jumped badly left 2 out and soon led, ridden approaching last, joined inside final furlong, narrowly headed close home, stayed on well to line, 2nd of 7, shd behind Minella Crooner (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding in Dec.
Largy Debut (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd throughout, took keen hold, bad mistake 1st, ridden when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Minella Crooner (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding in Dec.
