always towards rear, pushed along from 4 out, ridden and no impression after next
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4 out, pressed leader entering straight, ridden to dispute before 2 out, narrow lead before last where fell
chased leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 5 out, 3rd next, ridden before straight, no extra in 5th 2 out, left moderate 4th last
held up, closer in 5th 6 out, ridden into 3rd before 2 out, under pressure and mistake last, soon slightly hampered, kept on same pace run-in
settled mid-division, ridden in 5th before straight, under pressure in 4th 2 out, left 3rd last, stayed on well to lead closing stages
settled mid-division, 4th halfway, fell 3 out
held, mistake 5 out and slight mistake 3 out, ridden and joined before 2 out, narrowly headed before last, left in lead last, headed closing stages and no extra
Dual bumper winner Slige Dala made a winning debut over hurdles at Listowel and should be thereabouts at this level. He’s preferred to stablemate Etincelle Lioterie but COMMANDING PRESENCE may be the one to side with. The latter won impressively at Punchestown on his debut under Rules and Henry De Bromhead’s charge has plenty of scope for further improvement. The Little Yank has the beating of stable companion Fairyhill Run and Formal Order on these terms while At The Acorn has won over fences since last seen over timber.
At The Acorn (IRE) 9-2fav (10-3) In rear, hampered 4th, headway into close 8th when bad mistake 2 out, ridden entering straight, 6th bypassing last, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 24, 9 1/2l behind Glamorgan Duke (9-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Commandingpresence (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, pushed along and improved to lead entering straight, went clear approaching last, mistake at last, kept on well run-in, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep beating Dakota Beat (12-0) by 15l, 14 ran.
Slige Dala (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Led or disputed lead, not fluent 5th and slight mistake next, pushed along and led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed before last, under pressure and led again run-in, all out to hold on, won at Listowel 2m 4f mdn sft in Sep beating Coolbane Boy (12-0) by ns, 16 ran.
The Little Yank (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, closer in 5th 4 out, 3rd after 3 out, pushed along in 2nd entering straight, on terms 2 out, ridden and headed at last, 3rd 75yards out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Humaniste (11-1) at Tipperary 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Formal Order 22-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, stayed on to press leaders last, disputed close home and prevailed last strides, won at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn sft in Sep beating Mr Jackman (11-9) by hd, 12 ran.
Etincelle Lioterie (FR) 18-1 (10-11) Towards rear, not fluent 1st, slightly hampered 4th, ridden in 6th from 3 out and no impression from next, kept into 5th run-in, 5th of 7, 18l behind Buildmeupbuttercup (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Fairyhill Run (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division, 7th halfway, close 5th 3 out, disputed after 3 out and led briefly entering straight, headed before 2 out, no impression in 2nd when not fluent last and dropped to 4th run-in, kept on into 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Whereyounow (11-1) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
