mid division, 7th halfway, headway into 4th after 3 out, ridden and kept on from next
mid division, 6th halfway, pushed along and no extra from before 2 out
towards rear, 12th halfway, no impression from over 3f out
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along in 6th before 2 out, soon no extra
mid division, 10th halfway, ridden and no impression from over 3 out
mid division, 9th halfway, pushed along and no impression from over 3 out
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 5th after 2 out, no extra from last
towards rear, 14th halfway, pushed along and kept on from over 3 out
towards rear, 16th halfway, pushed along and kept on from over 3 out
towards rear, 13th halfway, good headway from 3 out, staying on in 5th when fell 2 out
led early, headed after 1st, remained 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 4th entering straight, kept on one pace
always towards rear, never a factor
rear of mid division, 8th halfway, pushed along and no impression from over 2 out
prominent, led after 1st, 3 lengths clear halfway, extended advantage travelling easily entering straight, 5 length lead after 2 out, soon ridden and kept on well
rear of mid division, 11th halfway, pushed along and no impression from over 3 out
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along to go 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden and kept on, no impression on winner
The complexion of this would alter if Willie Mullins' French recruit In Excess got a run from his reserve spot. Whatcouldhavebeen improved massively on the Flat, scoring easily at Galway in October, while He's Ultimate has moved to Gordon Elliott after finishing second in a Loughanmore point-to-point. Doctor Brown Bear came up against some very smart performers last winter and wasn't disgraced in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham while Dante's Pass looks the type to do well over timber for Joseph O'Brien. FOXY GIRL finished runner-up in an Auteuil Listed contest in April last year and didn't return until early this month when runner-up to Liberty Dance. The winner subsequently won a Listed contest so the form should be strong enough for this.
Benaud (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistakes 1st and 6th, pushed along in moderate 5th after 3 out, moderate 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 18, 17 1/2l behind Joyeux Machin (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Dante's Pass (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Mid-division early, checked after 2f and dropped to rear of mid-division, 8th when checked under 2f out, soon pushed along and no impression, 10th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Saltonstall (9-13) at Leopardstown 1m hcp sft in Oct.
Fireworks (FR) 150-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, 4th when not fluent 4th, close up when not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along in 4th and no impression, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 8, 35 1/4l behind Inothewayurthinkin (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m hvy in Nov.
Noble Crusade (USA) 100-1 (11-12) Always behind, never a factor, 16th of 20, at Punchestown 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Whatcouldhavebeen (IRE) 5-1jfav (10-1) Rear of mid-division, headway into 8th halfway, pushed along and progress to challenge approaching straight, ridden and led over 1f out, kept on well and drew clear final 100 yards, won at Galway 1m 4f hcp hvy in Oct beating Your Honor (9-9) by 5l, 18 ran.
Ages Of Man (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, 6th halfway, pushed along before last and soon ridden, no impression on principals but kept on into 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 8l behind No Looking Back (11-7) at Thurles 2m mdn Yielding in Dec.
Ceroc (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Led, 4 lengths clear after 2f, reduced advantage after 4f, pushed along over 4f out, headed entering straight, weakened 1 1/2f out, 9th of 15, 18 1/4l behind Lisnagar Fortune (11-7) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Apr.
Doctor Brown Bear (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, led until 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, weakened and towards rear soon after, 12th of 21, 17 1/4l behind Brazil (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Hands Of Gold (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders and not fluent 1st, fell 4th, at Thurles 2m mdn Yielding in Dec.
Harvard Guy 80-1 (11-11) Towards rear, pushed along early, no impression in 12th 3 out, kept on one pace, 11th of 23, dist behind Grangeclare West (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn sft in Nov.
Raglan Road (IRE) Soldier Of Fortune gelding out of Akiliyna.
Royal Moon (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 4th 3 out, soon closer, ridden before 2 out, left 3rd 2 out, pressed leaders before last, mistake last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Santonito (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn sft in Dec.
Vulture Peak (IRE) 250-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders early, soon mid-division and ridden before halfway, no impression in 9th 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 16, 18 1/2l behind Needle Lace (9-4) at Limerick 1m mdn gd in Apr.
Bynx (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, in rear halfway, 6th 3 out, ridden in 4th after next, no impression on principals, 4th of 8, 29 1/4l behind Inothewayurthinkin (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m hvy in Nov.
Flemensreva (IRE) Flemensfirth filly out of Revaader.
Foxy Girl (FR) 10-3 (10-13) Tracked leaders and 2nd halfway, improved to dispute lead 4 out and led before next where mistake, strongly pressed before 2 out where again mistake and soon headed, ridden before last, no extra and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Liberty Dance (11-7) at Thurles 2m mdn Yielding in Dec.
Out Of The Park (IRE) 125-1 (11-5) In touch, 8th after 6th, under pressure and weakened before 3 out, 13th of 22, dist behind Arctic Bresil (11-12) at Cork 2m 1f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
In Excess (FR) (9-10) 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Issam (10-3) at Moulins 1m 4f sft in Apr.
He's Ultimate (IRE) 5-4 (11-11) Ld, 2l adv 1/2way, hdd 3out, ld agn aftr 2out, rdn into str, chall last & sn hdd, nt mtch wnr flat, 2nd of 10, 8l behind It's For Me (11-11) at Loughanmore 3m mdn Good - Yielding in Apr.
Birdie Or Bust (IRE) Walk In The Park filly out of Bint Valkyrie.
Phils Choice (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, slight mistake 5th, 2nd halfway, led 3 out and asserted entering straight, pushed along and 4 lengths clear when ran out through wing 2 out, at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Nov.
