held up in 6th, headway 4 out, went 3rd and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders
tracked leaders, disputed lead from 4th, slight mistake 6th, led from 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well run-in
always behind, bad mistake 1st, slight mistake 5th, not fluent 7th and mistake 8th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
always towards rear, pushed along early, mistakes 2nd, 3rd and 10th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon no impression on leaders
tracked leaders, pushed along and dropped to 6th 4 out, ridden in 6th and mistake 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, slow at 2nd, 5th at halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, 3rd and no impression on leaders next, kept on one pace
led, joined from 4th, headed 4 out, ridden in 2nd after 3 out, kept on in 2nd run-in
CIEL DE NEIGE looked a natural on his chasing debut at Thurles, jumping like an old hand and coming home with plenty to spare. His penalty means he has to concede 5lb to the four-year-old Busselton, who has now won three of his six starts over fences and been placed in the remaining three. Frontal Assault was narrowly beaten by the latter at Punchestown last month, his first start since March, so must have a chance of a form reversal while stablemate Fancy Foundations has been racing in graded company since scoring over fences ay Sligo last month. Bay Ambition looks a nice prospect for chasing having made a promising start at Galway in October.
Fancy Foundations 13-2 (11-5) Waited with, soon in rear, stumbled slightly 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, closed and left 3rd from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, no impression 2 out, left 2nd from last, 2nd of 4, 26l behind Vanillier (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 7f (1) Yielding in Nov.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 6-5fav (12-0) Disputed lead early, tracked leader and disputed again after 4th, led 2 out, asserted run-in and kept on well, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m 2f gd in Nov beating Crosshill (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Bay Ambition (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, slow 8th, some headway 4 out, closer 2 out and went 3rd early run-in, 2nd and ridden entering straight, no impression on winner inside final 150 yards, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Sixshooter (12-0) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct.
Conquredalofeurope (IRE) 200-1 (12-0) Held up, towards rear halfway, no extra 4 out, 10th of 15, dist behind Ferny Hollow (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Frontal Assault (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in 4th early, bumped and mistake at 2nd, went 2nd from 7th, jumped right at 11th, ridden in 2nd when bad mistake 2 out, disputed 2nd approaching last, not fluent at last, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Busselton (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Nov.
Slige Dala (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Prominent, on terms 4th, pecked slightly 7th, dropped to 3rd 4 out and ridden, left 2nd and no impression from 3 out, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 5, 13 1/4l behind Fully Charged (12-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4f gd in Oct.
Velvet Elvis (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 9th, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no impression on leaders, 4th of 18, 12 1/2l behind Farouk D'Alene (12-0) at Navan 2m 4f Yielding in Dec.
Busselton (FR) 13-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 9th and pushed along, ridden in 3rd with plenty to do entering straight, improved into disputing 2nd when short of room on inner approaching last, switched left and ridden run-in, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Punchestown 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Nov beating Indiana Jones (11-5) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
