led, joined 7th, headed and dropped to 5th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, jumped left and left 4th at last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, slow 3rd, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out, pushed along and no impression when left 3rd and hampered after last, kept on one pace
prominent on outer, disputed from 7th and led 3 out, asserted after 2 out and 5 lengths clear when fell last
always towards rear, never a factor, mistake 6th, detached before 4 out, weakened, completely tailed off
chased leaders, 8th halfway, 6th and mistake 4 out, no extra after next
tracked leaders, slight mistake 6th, 5th halfway, progress into 2nd before 2 out, ridden and no impression on leader when left in front last, soon headed and no extra closing stages
mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 8th before 3 out, left moderate 7th last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, dropped towards rear before halfway, pushed along and detached before 4 out, weakened, completely tailed off
rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, pushed along before 4 out and soon no extra, tailed off
chased leaders, 7th halfway, no impression 3 out and soon no extra, left moderate 5th last
towards rear, progress on outer before 5th, 4th halfway, ridden after 2 out, left 2nd and slightly hampered after last, soon led, kept on well to assert closing stages
This should provide some pointers for the coming weeks as Walk To Freedom and Champagne James have shown good form over the bigger obstacles while Domesday Book and MCKINLEY have bags of potential. The former is the most experienced having had eight starts over fences with a couple of big efforts behind him but Walk To Freedom's second to the exciting Shaneshill at Thurles is the best chasing form on view. Domesday Book has no jumping blood in his pedigree but that didn't prevent him producing some fine runs over timber so there's no reason why he shouldn't make a chaser, especially as he has plenty of size about him. The selection was the shock winner of a Grade 1 hurdle at Naas in January then spent most of the remainder of the season chasing stablemate Nicholls Canyon. He's still only a five-year-old and though he's another bred for the Flat two Grade 1 entries over Christmas suggest he's well regarded.
Champagne James (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Soon mid-division, slightly impeded 2nd, 10th after 4th, improved 5th, pushed along from 4 out, soon no impression, jumped left 2 out, jumped left last,, 4th of 18, 28 1/2l behind Bonny Kate (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f sft in Nov.
Domesday Book (USA) 4-1 (11-7) Disputed, left in lead 1st, soon headed and chased leader in 2nd, challenged 3 out, ridden entering straight, narrow lead before 2 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner and kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Blair Perrone (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Edwulf 16-1 (12-0) Led and pressed throughout, ridden and headed 3f out, no extra entering straight, 7th of 15, dist behind Champers On Ice (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 2f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Eight Till Late (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden into moderate 7th entering straight, no impression and kept on one pace, 8th of 14, dist behind Douvan (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f sft in Nov.
I Knew Well (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, ridden and no impression 4 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, dist behind Douvan (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f sft in Nov.
Mckinley 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, slight mistake 7th, 5th approaching 3 out, soon under pressure and no impression, no extra straight, tailed off,, 5th of 6, dist behind Nichols Canyon (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Mezendore (IRE) 150-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, slight mistake 5th, behind from 8th, mistake 12th, no impression 5 out, weakened, 7th of 9, dist behind Pont Alexandre (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 6f hvy in Dec.
Never Said That (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Towards rear for most, mistake 1st, ridden and no impression before 4 out, 9th of 10, dist behind He Is Top Class (11-12) at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding in Nov.
Oscar Knight (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, badly hampered 2nd, slight mistake 9th, soon no danger, 8th of 15, dist behind Ttebbob (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f sft in Nov.
Upstager (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Held up, slightly impeded 2nd, pushed along briefly after 7th, slight mistake next, soon no danger, 7th of 15, dist behind Ttebbob (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f sft in Nov.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, progress 3 out and 2nd approaching next, pushed along and no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 16, 3 3/4l behind Shaneshill (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f sft in Nov.
