chased leader in 2nd, disputed from 4th, led briefly 3 out, ridden in 2nd before straight, under pressure before last, kept on same pace
led, slight mistake 4th and disputed, slight mistake 3 out and headed briefly, led before straight, ridden 2 out, asserted before last, kept on well, eased close home
settled behind leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd halfway, dropped to rear and ridden after 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, 4th and kept on one pace from before last
held up in rear, 4th after 3 out, ridden before straight and no impression, mistake 2 out, kept on one pace into 3rd before last, no impression on leaders
Draycott Place and HIDDEN CYCLONE (NAP) are better known as chasers but both produced a decent effort last time over the smaller obstacles. The latter was second behind Clondaw Warrior in the Galway Hurdle and is the one to beat on that form. Archive was hopelessly out of form at the start of the year and hasn't raced since May but Water Sprite won on the Flat at Galway and has since finished second over hurdles at Tramore and won at Bellewstown so looks the one for forecast-backers.
Draycott Place (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, led approaching 2 out, ridden after 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace in 2nd from last, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Crosshue Boy (11-4) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f hcp gd in Sep.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, 5th after 3rd, some slight mistakes, not much room on inner after 3 out and pushed along, 8th approaching 2 out, chased leaders before straight, stayed on well run-in, not quite get to winner, 2nd of 20, 1/2l behind Clondaw Warrior (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Lean And Keen (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Pushed along briefly early, prominent, pushed along again 3f out, dropped to 4th over 2f out, soon no extra, eased final furlong, 7th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Ruler Of France (9-6) at Ballinrobe 1m 2f hcp gd in Jul.
Archive (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Prominent and slight mistake 1st, chased leaders, disputed 3rd from 2nd, slight mistakes 4 out and 3 out, ridden after 3 out, no extra before 2 out, soon eased, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Princely Conn (11-12) at Clonmel 2m gd in May.
Water Sprite (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Soon tracked leaders, hampered 4th, slight mistake 5th, switched right to challenge before last where on terms, led and stayed on best run-in, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f gd in Aug beating Colla Pier (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Drive The Bus (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 12th on outer halfway, pushed along and no impression approaching 3 out, weakened, 9th of 14, dist behind Kemboy (11-4) at Killarney 2m 5f hcp gd in Aug.
