chased leaders, 6th at 4th, moderate 5th before straight, kept on well without threatening run-in
soon prominent, on terms 4th, soon led and disputed, led at last where not fluent, ridden out and stayed on well run-in
prominent, on terms 4th and close up and disputed after, headed at last, soon no extra, one pace
tracked leaders, 4th at 4th, moderate 3rd before straight, ridden to chase winner last, no impression and kept on run-in
held up, 7th at 4th, not fluent 7th, slightly impeded 2 out, moderate 8th before straight, soon one pace
chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, 5th at 4th, moderate 4th before straight, kept on well without threatening winner run-in
held up, last at 4th and pushed along, no impression next, soon pulled up
soon towards rear, 10th at 4th, slightly impeded and jumped left 6th, not always fluent jumping after, behind approaching 4 out, soon pulled up
held up, 9th at 4th, jumped left at times, moderate 6th before straight, soon one pace
soon led, joined 4th, soon headed, slight mistake 7th, dropped to moderate 7th before straight, soon no extra
soon towards rear, 8th at 4th, slight mistake 3 out, chasing leaders when fell next
COURTNCATCHER (NAP) , four times a winner over hurdles, gained his first success over fences at the 16th attempt when beating today's rival Thomond and Dallas Cowboy, who runs earlier, over this track and trip. He's up 6lb but this looks a good opportunity to double his tally. Bearly Legal won this last year and though unsuccessful subsequently he's been racing over further in better company so it would be no surprise to see him score again. Aurora Bell had Katnap around two lengths behind at Down Royal but that was almost two years ago and he was receiving 13lb so the latter, who was behind the selection last time when favourite, is expected to get closer. After Aspen went up 9lb after landing a novices' chase at Naas in November and was beaten a long way into third at Cork next time.
Bearly Legal (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th after 3 out, no impression 2 out, no extra before last, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Irish Bulletin (11-11) at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Katnap (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Rear of mid-division, bad mistake 2nd, rear halfway, pushed along after 2 out, 8th and pecked last, kept on one pace, 8th of 12, 9l behind Courtncatcher (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Aurora Bell (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-7) Held up, 5th after 10th, bad mistake 4 out, 4th 3 out, disputed 3rd 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 27 1/2l behind He Rock's (10-11) at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp hvy in Oct.
Forty Foot Tom 16-1 (10-3) Raced in 6th early, no impression 3 out, impeded next, soon no extra, 9th of 12, 28l behind Lake Takapuna (10-6) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
After Aspen (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression in 4th after 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 26 1/2l behind Sumos Novios (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Courtncatcher (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress travelling well on outer entering straight and led before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec beating Thomond (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Thomond (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, disputed briefly 8th, progress to dispute again 2 out, pushed along and headed before last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Courtncatcher (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Sir Harry Cash 5-1 (10-13) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, 7th before 7 out, went 6th after 3 out and pushed along before next where not fluent, no impression in 6th from before last, 6th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Smokey Joe Joe (11-10) at Limerick 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Tavern Times (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Raced 4th, 5th at 5th, 4th at 6th, 5th 2 out, 6th and not fluent last, soon ridden, kept on over 1f out to 4th closing stages, 4th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Battling Boru (11-3) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Eiri Na Casca (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, 5th early, 4th from 2 out, no impression from before last, kept on without threatening run-in into 3rd on line, 3rd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Black Zero (9-11) at Naas 2m hcp sft in Jan.
Fr Humphrey (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Led, joined briefly 8th, headed 2 out, soon pushed along and no impression in 7th before last, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 7 3/4l behind Courtncatcher (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Bottle Rattler (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Towards rear, never a factor, no extra 5 out and pulled up before next, at Cork 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
