in rear, headway travelling well into 11th 3 out, ridden from next, weakened
mid-division on outer, weakened from 3 out, never a factor
rear of mid-division on inner, 13th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 7th at last, kept on without threatening
led, slight mistake 6th, ridden 3 out, headed after next, soon weakened
rear of mid-division, slight mistake 6th, closer in 12th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, moderate 8th and bad mistake at last
mid-division on outer, weakened before 3 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, 7th and mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, went 2nd next, pushed along and disputed lead after 2 out, ridden at last, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
mid-division on inner, short of room and hampered entering straight, ridden and headway into 5th 2 out, soon no impression
in rear, slight mistakes 2nd and 5th, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden 3 out, weakened
mid-division, bumped at 1st, 9th 3 out, soon ridden, 5th at last, kept on without threatening in 3rd close home
refused to race
mid-division, headway into 5th travellling well 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 3rd at last, no impression
tracked leaders, bumped briefly entering straight, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, bumped slightly at 1st, headway into 4th on outer 3 out, improved to dispute lead and pushed along after 2 out, ridden at last, headed narrowly inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home
in rear, some progress into 8th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
towards rear, pushed along on outer entering straight, ridden after 2 out, moderate 11th at last, kept on without threatening
mid-division, jumped right at 1st, 9th 4 out, ridden from 3 out, headway on inner run-in, kept on without threatening
mid-division, ridden entering straight, weakened
A very tough handicap for punters to unravel, especially as Gordon Elliott has five entries. Barry Geraghty is on board J P McManus' Squouateur and though his mount is suited by the trip he hasn't run over hurdles for a very long time. Jack Kennedy rides Dinaria Des Obeaux and he's another reverting to timber after a long break though he's been in good form over fences and is 9lb lower. Calie Du Mesnil looks the best hope for Willie Mullins as she finished runner-up in a Listed contest at Limerick and makes her handicap debut. Walk To Freedom gained a surprise victory from De Name Escapes Me and Salty Boy over 2m6f here and would have to be a threat on that form but this can go to ROOSTER BYRON. Paul Nolan's charge was in superb form in the spring, completing a hat-trick on testing ground. Last month's run at Cork will have blown away the cobwebs and he can get back on the winning trail. Plinth wins his share and has gradually dropped to a favourable mark.
De Plotting Shed (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, slow 2nd, headway from normal 4 out, led before omitted 2 out, headed after omitted last, no extra towards finish, 4th of 8, 5l behind Go Another One (10-8) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Ball D'Arc (FR) 11-10fav (11-10) Held up in 4th, pushed along briefly at 4th, last at 6th, ridden and no impression from 3 out, never a factor, last of 5, 33 1/4l behind Doctor Phoenix (11-1) at Naas 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Walk To Freedom (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway from 3 out, 4th on outer 2 out, ridden and went 2nd approaching last, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Navan 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov beating De Name Escapes Me (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Squouateur (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Always behind, under pressure from early and soon trailing, pulled up before 4 out, at Navan 3m hcp gd in Nov.
Plinth (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) In rear, no impression from 3 out, some modest late progress, 11th of 21, 10 3/4l behind Wonder Laish (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Dinaria Des Obeaux (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Close up and disputed lead, not fluent 2nd, a little slow 6th, no impression when bumped with rival 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 11 1/2l behind Camelia De Cotte (10-10) at Clonmel 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Nov.
Cliff House (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, 4th before halfway, pushed along from 4f out, slightly impeded from 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Days Without End (8-12) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Dec.
Salty Boy (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra in 4th at last, kept on without threatening in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Walk To Freedom (10-12) at Navan 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov.
Stooshie (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) Mid-division, 10th entering straight, soon ridden and no impression, 9th of 21, 8 1/4l behind Wonder Laish (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Calie Du Mesnil (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, 5th after 1st, took closer order at 7th, progress to 2nd before 2 out, no impression on leader before last, ridden and kept on run-in, not trouble winner, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Percy Veer (11-2) at Limerick 2m 5f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Forever Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Waited with, 16th early, slight mistake 2nd, some headway when not fluent 6 out, kept on same pace straight, 13th of 20, dist behind Out Sam (10-13) at Cork 3m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Dromore Lad (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 5th from 8th, no impression before 2 out, 9th before straight, kept on same pace, 8th of 13, 11 1/2l behind Kilfenora (11-1) at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Elusive Theatre (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led briefly 5th, remained prominent until pushed along and lost place quickly after 2 out, soon towards rear, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 5th of 7, 16 1/2l behind Stormy Ireland (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 2f lst (1) gd in Nov.
Law Girl (FR) 4-1 (9-0) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, no impression 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace to moderate 6th, no danger, 6th of 9, 18 3/4l behind Mustajeer (9-5) at Naas 1m 4f lst stks (1) Yielding in Nov.
Conright Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, progress into 3rd after 4 out, challenged entering straight, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no extra in 5th next, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Allez Kal (10-3) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Golden Jewel (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, progress before 3 out, 7th entering straight, ridden and no impression 2 out, 4th last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 15, 12 1/4l behind Gunfire Reef (10-8) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp gd in Nov.
Mastermind (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) A little keen, held up towards rear, effort from before straight, soon one pace, 9th of 11, 13 1/4l behind Hearts Are Trumps (11-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Russian Bill (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Rear of mid-division, some progress entering straight, ridden in 9th 2 out, no impression, 9th of 13, 15 1/2l behind De Name Escapes Me (10-12) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Jack Fiasco 9-1 (11-2) Prominent, led after 2nd, slight mistake 4th, went on from 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, headed between last 2, not fluent last, dropped to 3rd run-in, one pace, 3rd of 8, 8 1/4l behind Jack Dillinger (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f gd in Dec.
Roseriver Has (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 8th after 2nd, 6th before 4th, soon 5th, one pace from before straight, 6th of 20, 22 1/2l behind Lone Wolf (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn gd in Dec.
Orion D'Aubrelle (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Soon raced in 3rd, not always fluent jumping, lost position from 8th, last and not fluent 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
Rooster Byron (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, slow 1st, 5th halfway, ridden into 4th 3 out, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 12, 7 1/2l behind Allez Kal (10-3) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
