mid-division early, 8th at 4th, fell 8th
close up, on terms approaching 7th, soon headed, effort straight, slight mistake last, one pace after
waited with, 13th at 4th, not fluent 8th, no impression from before 2 out
towards rear early, 12th at 4th, no impression before 2 out, weakened, tailed off
mid-division early, 7th at 4th, improved and on terms 2 out, soon gained narrow lead, joined last, headed run-in, one pace
disputed lead, led 3rd, joined approaching 7th, soon led again, joined 2 out, soon headed, one pace run-in
waited with, 14th at 4th, soon pushed along briefly between horses, slightly slow at 6th, soon pushed along again, impeded 8th, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out
soon chased leaders, 4th at 4th, closed up and effort straight, slight mistake last, one pace after
in rear, impeded 8th, no impression straight, pulled up before last
waited with, 15th at 4th, some headway and slightly impeded 8th, no impression from before 2 out
close up and disputed lead briefly early, slight mistake 2nd, ridden and quickly lost place from 4th, pulled up next
mid-division early, 9th at 4th, mistake 6th, slight mistake 3 out, headway behind horses straight and switched about, led run-in and stayed on best to assert closing stages
mid-division early, not always fluent jumping, 11th at 4th, slightly impeded 8th, soon headway, no impression and mistake last, no extra after
soon tracked leaders, 5th at 4th, close up on outer when fell 8th
disputed lead early, tracked leaders, 6th at 4th, effort straight, no extra last
mid-division early, 10th at 4th, progress when slightly impeded 8th, switched right approaching 2 out, challenged and on terms last, headed run-in, one pace
Best Behavior has put his jumping problems behind with victories at Leopardstown and here last time and looks as though he could go on to better things though Star Max, narrowly beaten in that latter race, has a chance of reversing the form on the revised terms. Mormon has come up against a couple of smart recruits in his two runs over fences while An Fraoch Mor was impressive when scoring by 11 lengths on just his second start over fences at Navan. Valdieu won over hurdles here a year ago and over fences three weeks ago so has to be in the mix while From Eden's last run on heavy ground resulted in a victory at Fairyhouse. CASTLE OLIVER found 2m too short at Down Royal and only scrambled home but had impressed on very testing ground at Fairyhouse earlier and can complete a hat-trick.
Best Behavior (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hampered 3rd, mistake 9th, 4th 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, plenty to do under pressure in 3rd at last, good headway inside final furlong, led close home, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan beating Star Max (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ministerforsport (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders, dropped to mid-division after 9th, slight mistake 11th, jumped left 6 out, ridden in 5th and no impression when jumped left 3 out, soon no extra, 7th of 12, dist behind Minella Indo (11-12) at Navan 3m Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Mormon (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, mistake 8th, close up approaching 3 out, slightly hampered 2 out, ridden and 2nd before last, under pressure and no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Elwood (11-12) at Thurles 2m 4f Yielding in Jan.
An Fraoch Mor (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Bumped 1st, soon close up and disputed, went on from before 4 out, travelling smoothly straight, stayed on well from 2 out, easily, won at Navan 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Brosna George (11-3) by 11l, 8 ran.
Valdieu (FR) 3-1jfav (11-6) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 3rd halfway, headway after 3 out and led next, soon pushed along, ridden and kept on run-in, held on well, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Feb beating Halsafari (11-3) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Star Max (GER) 5-1 (11-5) Disputed lead, headed 4th, led 4 out, joined next, ridden 2 out, led at last, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Best Behavior (11-7) at Naas 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Monkshood (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led early, headed 3rd, 3rd at last (usual 3 out), ridden in 4th entering straight, soon no impression on leaders, 4th of 17, 22 1/4l behind Bapaume (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f sft in Dec.
From Eden (USA) 11-2 (11-11) Chased leaders early, 3rd after 1st, dropped to last briefly but still in touch at 7th, closed up 4 out, effort straight, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Velocity Boy (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Chavi Artist (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) In rear, slight mistake 8th, headway into 13rd when hampered 2 out, soon ridden, 8th bypassing last, no impression final furlong, 7th of 24, 11 1/2l behind Glamorgan Duke (9-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Cooldine Bog (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Towards rear, slight mistake 1st, pushed along after 3 out, some headway and mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace run-in to go 4th close home, 4th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Ice Cold Soul (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Jan.
Mount Hanover 7-2 (11-5) Led, headed after 2nd, remained prominent and led or disputed from 6th, slight mistake and headed 9th, 3rd 4 out and soon pushed along, 4th and no impression when slight mistake 2 out, no extra, 4th of 9, 19l behind Minella Till Dawn (10-10) at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Jan.
Castle Oliver (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to press leader last, disputed run-in, edged ahead close home, won at Down Royal 2m sft in Jan beating Diamond Turf (11-7) by nk, 5 ran.
Great Khan (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, slight mistakes 1st and 6th, 3rd halfway, ridden after 3 out, stayed on and closer before last, pressed leader last, no extra in 3rd run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 7 1/4l behind Castle Oliver (11-0) at Down Royal 2m sft in Jan.
Bitsandpieces (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, mid-division in 7th halfway, improved into 2nd briefly and mistake 4 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression 3 out, no extra before next, 5th of 11, dist behind Isle Of Destiny (11-5) at Down Royal 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Theatre World (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Disputed lead early, tracked leaders and 4th halfway, headway to dispute lead after 3 out, headed next, ridden and no impression in 3rd approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 10 3/4l behind Countess Cathleen (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hvy in Jan.
Countess Cathleen (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 3 out, progress on outer to lead next, travelled well approaching last, pushed along and drew clear run-in, kept on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m hvy in Jan beating Shakeytry (11-12) by 4 3/4l, 11 ran.
