rear, good headway after 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
mid-division, 9th before 5th, no impression 2 out
in touch, 6th before 5th, no impression 2 out, not fluent last, no extra
rear, 14th after 5th, weakened after 3 out, never a factor
mid-division, 10th at 5th, lost place and weakened after 3 out
rear of mid-division, 11th at 5th, lost place and weakened after 3 out
led narrowly, headed 3 out, 3rd 2 out, no extra in 4th before last, weakened and dropped to 5th close home
soon tracked leader in close 2nd, led narrowly 3 out, headed before last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in
in touch, 5th before 5th, 7th after 3 out, progress before 2 out where not fluent, ridden and weakened in 5th before last
rear of mid-division, a little keen, 13th after 5th, no impression before 2 out, kept on run-in, never nearer
close up, 3rd before 5th, improved to 2nd 2 out, led before last, ran on strongly run-in, comfortably
towards rear, 15th after 5th, weakened after 3 out, never a factor
towards rear, 12th after 5th, headway before 3 out, mistake 2 out and lost place, no extra before last
in touch, 8th before 5th, progress to 5th after 3 out, 4th 2 out, improved to 3rd last, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace
rear, not fluent at 3rd, headway before 2 out where not fluent, stayed on well run-in to 4th close home, never nearer
close up, 4th before 5th, lost place before 2 out where mistake, no extra run-in
rear, effort before 2 out, kept on run-in, never on terms
in touch, 7th before 5th, 8th after 3 out, lost place before 2 out, weakened before last where bad mistake and unseated rider
NonRunner
Charles Byrnes has won this in the past and his two entries, Secret Artist and Gendarme, are worth a market check. Derridae was a 50/1 chance when scoring convincingly at Thurles for which he's been raised 8lb. A Mere Bagatelle alternates between hurdles and fences though keeps going up without winning but THE CONNECTOR looks just the type for this. Michael Hourigan's four-year-old was having only his fifth start when a close fourth in a Punchestown handicap so should make enough progress to get competitive. Three-year-old's don't normally win this kind of handicap so the presence of Tony Martin's Thetys, an improver behind Comfort Zone at Navan, is intriguing.
Galactic Grey (IRE) 28-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden into 7th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 11th of 16, 11 1/4l behind Pimstrel (9-2) at Galway 7f hcp sft in Sep.
Secret Artist (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, no impression before 3 out, no extra after 2 out, 11th of 22, dist behind Arctic Bresil (11-12) at Cork 2m 1f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
The Truant (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Rear of mid-division, ridden in 10th after 3 out, moderate 7th before last, no extra, 6th of 18, 10 1/4l behind Pike County (11-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Gendarme (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, dropped to 14th after 6th, no impression before 3 out, weakened after 3 out, 14th of 15, 22 1/4l behind Meetingofthewaters (11-6) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
McGrath From Clune (IRE) 16-1 (11-13) Held up, rear of mid-division, ridden into moderate 7th before 2 out, mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 19 1/4l behind Bluebell Diva (11-4) at Clonmel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Oskar High (IRE) 28-1 (11-8) Rear of mid-division, dropped to rear halfway, pushed along and detached after 5 out, well behind 3 out and pulled up before next, at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
A Mere Bagatelle (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, led before 3 out, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, no impression in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 2nd final 100 yards, no threat to winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Marelly (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
Derridae (IRE) 50-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders and 3rd on outer halfway, improved to lead before 2 out and soon went 3 lengths clear, kept on well from last, won at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Dec beating Hunters Song (11-9) by 5l, 15 ran.
Crowsatedappletart (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Prominent and disputed briefly, soon tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd before 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra before 2 out, weakened and tailed off, 12th of 14, dist behind Bluebell Diva (11-4) at Clonmel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Dylan Lombardy (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, in touch in mid-division when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 11th of 15, dist behind Navigator Jack (11-10) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp sft in Jun.
Little Mixup (IRE) 100-1 (11-13) Rear of mid-division, 10th halfway, no impression from over 4 out, 12th of 15, dist behind Carrig Carol (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Morrie In D Quarry (IRE) 250-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, moderate 13th 3 out, no impression straight, never a factor, 9th of 18, dist behind Joyeux Machin (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Carmels Gift (IRE) 5-1 (11-13) Tracked leader, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, 5th 5 out, mistake next, pushed along and headway on outer entering straight, 2nd and no impression on winner 2 out, 4th and blundered last, no extra, 6th of 14, 17 1/2l behind Definiteadare (11-9) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
The Connector (IRE) 18-1 (10-4) Mid-division, 11th 3 out, pushed along entering straight, ridden and went 6th at last, kept on without threatening, 4th of 18, 6 1/2l behind Pike County (11-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Thetys (FR) 125-1 (10-7) Mid-division, closer in 6th 3 out, ridden before next, no extra in 5th when mistake at last, 5th of 22, 13 1/2l behind Comfort Zone (11-0) at Navan 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Bright Blue (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, not fluent 5th, pushed along and slight mistake in 10th 2 out, no threat in straight, kept on one pace, 8th of 14, 28 1/2l behind Common Practice (11-0) at Galway 2m mdn hvy in Oct.
Pont Audemer (FR) 80-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, no extra, 10th of 14, 31 1/4l behind Common Practice (11-0) at Galway 2m mdn hvy in Oct.
Hunters Song (IRE) 18-1 (11-9) Mid-division and 10th halfway, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along and good progress on outer, went 3rd before 2 out and further progress into 2nd before last, no impression on winner run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Derridae (11-6) at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Wrecking Ball Paul (IRE) 80-1 (11-11) Mid-division and well off pace, remote 10th and not fluent 3 out, no extra, tailed off, 9th of 19, dist behind Spirit Of Legend (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Nov.
Toon Town (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Rear, a little keen, 11th before 4th, detached and weakened before 3 out, never a factor, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Walnut Beach (11-13) at Cork 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
Thefaithfulindian (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Towards rear and 12th halfway, some progress into 8th when not fluent 3 out, ridden in 5th after 2 out, no impression before last where mistake, weakened run-in, 8th of 15, 22 3/4l behind Derridae (11-6) at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Dec.
