bad mistake 1st, soon led, headed before 5 out, 2nd after, struggling approaching last, chance again run-in, kept on same pace closing stages
chased leaders, 6th 4 out, soon struggling, kept on same pace
waited with, closed to track leaders 4 out, soon 3rd, struggling from before last, chance again run-in, kept on same pace closing stages
soon tracked leader, led before 5 out, went a little right next, went on approaching last, reduced lead and pressed run-in, stayed on well
prominent, 4th from before 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from before last
towards rear for most, no impression from 4 out
towards rear, ridden into moderate 5th and no impression before 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, weakened from before 3 out
Denis Hogan has done a superb job with LUKE'S BENEFIT, who reverted to fences last time on an old official rating after scoring twice over timber and scooted home. Not surprisingly he's been handed a massive 12lb rise in the weights but that may not be enough to prevent a follow-up. Hans Crescent has gone up 19lb since the first of his two victories over fences at Thurles but it was probably the 2m4f trip that proved too much for him last time. He easily holds Uncle Tom Cobley and Moville on his victory at Cork while Abbey Glen, four times a winner over hurdles, has shown little aptitude for tackling the bigger obstacles nor has In The Haven, who has fallen on his last two starts over fences.
Uncle Tom Cobley (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, moderate 4th approaching straight, soon no extra, 4th of 5, well behind Golden Silver (11-12) at Cork 2m chs Grd 2 (1) in Dec.
Hans Crescent (FR) 6-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, 6th 4 out, no impression and kept on same pace straight, 5th of 16, 11l behind Seabass (10-6) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 hvy in Dec.
Moville (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden in 7th 3 out, stayed on into 4th 2 out, no extra before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 15l behind Last Time D'albain (10-9) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 hvy in Dec.
Luke's Benefit (IRE) 7-4fav (10-9) Chased leader in moderate 2nd, closed after 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden and kept on well after last, won at Punchestown 2m hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Dec beating Senior Again (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Prince Of Leisure (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division when stumbled and slipped up after 3rd, in a race won by Glam Gerry (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-116 gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Abbey Glen (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division best, some mistakes, tailed off, 15th of 18, well behind Cloughmile (10-6) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Nov.
In The Haven (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 23l behind Sorted (11-10) at Punchestown 2m cond hcp hdl 80-95 hvy in Dec.
La Sarrazine (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, progress into 7th 3 out, kept on one paced, 6th of 15, 34l behind Blackstairmountain (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f beg chs hvy in Dec.
