soon mid-division, bad mistake 6th, progress 6 out, ridden into 6th before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace
soon disputed lead, fell 4 out
soon disputed lead, left in lead 4 out, headed before next, back in lead before straight, joined 2 out, headed last, dropped to 3rd near finish
fell 1st
mid-division, progress 6 out, no extra approaching 3 out
mid-division, mistake 6 out, 7th and headway from before 3 out, ridden into 5th before straight, moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on without troubling winner to go 2nd near finish
fell 2nd
raced wide, soon mid-division, headway to track leaders from 7 out, led before 3 out, soon headed, on terms again 2 out, led last, stayed on well run-in
prominent, 5th approaching 6 out, lost place after next, soon no impression
tracked leaders, 7th after 5 out, 6th approaching 3 out, soon no impression
chased leaders, hampered 4 out, 5th approaching 3 out, no extra from before straight
soon towards rear, no danger when pulled up before 3 out
mistake 1st, mid-division, no extra and pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off
always towards rear
mid-division until weakened and pulled up after 7 out
prominent, 4th before straight, soon no impression under pressure and kept on same pace
mid-division, closed into 6th after 5 out, 4th before 3 out, 3rd before straight, soon no impression under pressure and kept on same pace
Northern Alliance won this a year ago and will have been primed for another crack but he's 8lbs higher this time which may prove beyond him. He finished a very good fifth behind Finger Onthe Pulse in the Galway Plate last time and it's that race that could provide the key. The winner is also 8lbs higher but was being hotly pursued by Lucky Wish who fell at the last bringing down NEDZER'S RETURN, who was staying on. Whether he would have got there is another matter but he's on the same mark here and that was only his sixth start over regulation fences. Deutschland pulled up in the Plate but a recent spin on the Flat should have put him right while Golden Kite is probably better over fences than hurdles these days and doesn't look badly treated. Alfa Beat has been carrying all before him this summer but has paid the price in the weights with a massive 17lbs rise since his latest success at Galway.
Northern Alliance (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 14th approaching 6 out, 9th after 3 out, ridden into 6th and no impression from before straight, kept on without threatening, 5th of 22, 6l behind Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul.
Archie Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Killenaule Boy (9-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs fm in Jun, 11 ran.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Close up and disputed lead for much, strongly pressed and jumped left 2 out, headed before straight, rallied to regain lead over 1f out, stayed on well, all out, won at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul beating Themoonandsixpence (10-6) by 1/2l, 22 ran.
Deutschland (USA) 16-1 (11-5) Hampered 1st, always behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Nedzer's Return (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Held up, progress into 11th after 3 out, chasing leaders when brought down last, in a race won by Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Dancing Tornado (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, 10th halfway, 8th and progress after 4 out, 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 8l behind Slieveardagh (10-12) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp hdl gf in Aug.
Oscar Looby (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, bad mistake 7th and lost place, behind when pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Citizen Vic (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f nov chs G1 hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
Alfa Beat (IRE) 15-8fav (10-10) Chased leaders, improved to be on terms approaching 3 out, went clear before straight, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gf in Aug beating Wins Now (11-6) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Montero (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Always prominent, slight mistake 3 out, soon struggling, fell 2 out, in a race won by Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Chased leaders in moderate 6th, closed in 5th before 2 out, kept on without threatening under pressure straight, 4th of 12, 12l behind Gudnis Gracious Me (11-3) at Galway 2m hcp hdl 8Evens30 gf in Aug.
Lucky Wish 16-1 (10-3) Prominent, soon disputed lead, 2nd after 3 out, ridden to hold place when fell 2 out, in a race won by Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up, closer in 3rd travelling well 3 out, led before next, headed and no impression from last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Keelaghan (11-2) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f chs gd in Aug.
Footy Facts (IRE) 8-13fav (11-7) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to challenge 4 out, led before next, ridden and challenged 2 out, narrowly headed last, no extra run-in, just held 2nd, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Go Sandy Go (9-12) at Thurles 2m 6f hdl sft in Mar.
Paco Jack (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Golden Kite (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, 10th halfway, ridden in 9th before 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 10th of 17, 16l behind Silverhand (11-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl gf in Jul.
Barna Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Soon mid-division, moderate 5th approaching 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong until dropped to 3rd near finish, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Invisible Man (10-8) at Galway 2m 6f chs gd in Jul.
Will Jamie Run (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, no extra approaching 2 out, left moderate 5th and hampered after last, 5th of 14, 22l behind Golden Kite (10-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul.
Swift Counsel (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Towards rear, ridden in moderate 5th entering straight, moderate 4th from 2 out, left moderate 3rd at last, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Head Waiter (9-7) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp chs gf in Aug.
Mossbank (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway to 5th 5 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, soon no extra, kept on one pace, mistake last, 3rd of 9, 24l behind Neptune Collonges (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 fm in Apr '08.
Fisher Bridge (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Mid-division early, 7th halfway, ridden into 5th 2 out, no extra in 6th entering straight, kept on same pace, 6th of 19, 17l behind Overturn (11-6) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gf in Jul.
Nintytwo Team (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Tracked leader, on terms 2 out, led before straight, drifted to left and headed from 1f out, soon dropped to 3rd and no extra, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Lucky At Last (11-3) at Galway 2m 6f nov chs gf in Aug.
