badly hampered and lost considerable ground start, behind in rear, headway into 13th at 4th and closed, chased leaders on outer from before straight, bumped with rival approaching 2 out where slight mistake, kept on without matching winner from last
soon chased leaders, 6th after 2nd, effort straight, one pace from before last
waited with, 10th after 2nd, chased leaders and impeded approaching 2 out, soon one pace
waited with, 13th after 2nd, some headway 4th, one pace from before 2 out
soon led, headed before straight, soon weakened
soon chased leaders, 7th after 2nd, closed up travelling smoothly approaching straight, slight mistake 2 out and soon led, jumped slightly left last, stayed on well run-in
waited with, 12th after 2nd, headway 4th, effort straight, kept on without matching front pair from last
badly hampered start, took no part
mid-division early, 8th after 2nd, headway 4th, effort straight, one pace from before last
prominent, 2nd after 2nd, led before straight, headed after 2 out, slight mistake last, one pace
whipped around at start and unseated rider
prominent, 3rd after 2nd, pushed along after 3 out and lost position, soon weakened
waited with towards rear, 14th after 2nd, slight mistake 4th, never a factor
prominent, 4th after 2nd, effort straight, one pace from before last
waited with, 11th after 2nd, headway 4th, effort straight, no impression and mistake last, one pace
mid-division early, 9th after 2nd, headway 4th, slight mistake 3 out, soon one pace
soon chased leaders, 5th after 2nd, slight mistake 4th, pushed along from 3 out, bumped with rival approaching 2 out and mistake, one pace after, slight mistake last
Aarons Day was in double-winning form at the beginning of last year but is 9lb higher and it's almost a year since he ran. Thermistocles is another with an absence to overcome after a victory over fences at Thurles in March though he's on a 7lb lower mark. The USA raider Baltimore Bucks ran a fine race in a Limerick novices' race last month and the form has worked out well so he's an obvious threat though the vote goes to SHAKEYTRY, who is up 8lb for his victory on New Year's Day at Tramore but is still lower than his chase mark. The four-year-old Bigz Belief has been placed in four of five starts over timber and makes his handicap debut.
Aarons Day (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Raced in 11th early, headway to challenge and on terms 2 out, led run-in and stayed on well, won at Naas 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Ardamir (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 22 ran.
Star Max (GER) 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 7th 2 out, pushed along and soon no extra, weakened, 16th of 20, dist behind Dandy Mag (10-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Thermistocles (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 6th, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd 3 out and challenged after next, pushed along to lead before last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Myth Buster (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Majurca (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, dropped to 8th and slight mistake 5 out, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 11, dist behind Ballyward (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Yaha Fizz (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Pushed along at start and soon led, ran around approaching 3rd and joined, led next, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Epson Du Houx (11-5) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Jan.
Capilano Bridge (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders early, rear of mid-division 3 out, ridden and some headway in 9th approaching last, kept on run-in, 6th of 20, 11 3/4l behind Dysart Diamond (11-6) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Baltimore Bucko 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, 3rd halfway, went 2nd at 6th, on terms travelling well before 2 out, every chance when mistake last, headed and no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 3l behind No Grey Area's (11-3) at Limerick 2m hvy in Dec.
Sean Says (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, moderate 5th entering straight, no extra, 5th of 6, 28l behind Telmesomethinggirl (11-4) at Listowel 2m 4f gd in Sep.
The Broghie Man 22-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 10th of 16, 34l behind Uisce Solas (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hvy in Jan.
Conright Boy (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Disputed and clear of rest, headed before 7th, on terms again 4 out, led narrowly from next, headed and no extra before 2 out, 8th of 14, 27 1/4l behind Mattie's Mountain (10-11) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp hvy in Dec.
Shakeytry (IRE) 7-2fav (12-0) Prominent and disputed, ridden 2 out, led before last, kept on well run-in, won at Tramore 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Coole Arcade (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Bulldoze (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Prominent in 2nd behind clear leader, not fluent 4th, closed and on terms 7th, soon led, joined approaching 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 7th of 15, 17l behind Ciel De Neige (11-6) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Master Artist (IRE) 15-2 (10-4) Chased leaders, not fluent at times, lost place from 3 out and ridden on inner before next, no extra and kept on same pace from before last, 9th of 13, dist behind Hannon (11-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Bold Emperor (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Disputed lead, led from 5th, ridden and joined entering straight, headed 3 out, weakened, 7th of 13, 33l behind Jukebox Jive (11-2) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Stamina Chope (FR) 12-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway after 3 out and 3rd next, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 7 1/4l behind West Cork Wildway (11-5) at Thurles 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Aircraft Carrier (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along after 3 out and 8th next, soon no extra and pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Bigz Belief (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Disputed until headed after 3rd, slight mistakes 4th and 5th, on terms 4 out, pushed along to lead before 2 out, slight mistake and headed 2 out, ridden and no impression in 2nd before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 16l behind Youmdor (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
Melly And Me (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Towards rear, some headway early straight and 8th 2 out, soon ridden and no impression approaching last, no extra, 7th of 15, 11 1/2l behind Lord Erskine (11-3) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Youngnedofthehill (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Waited with towards rear, headway and effort straight, left in lead from last, quickly asserted and stayed on well, won at Navan 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Above The City (10-4) by 4 1/4l, 18 ran.
Mc Alpine (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, some headway on outer 3 out, pushed along after next and no impression towards rear at last, kept on one pace, 7th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Flindt (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hvy in Jan.
