Futurum Regem won this last year though entered the race in much better form than here. Gordon Elliott has six engaged including Jungle Prose, on a five-timer after a victory over 2m6f here last month but 12lb higher. Eric Bloodaxe, a Grade 2 winner for Joseph O'Brien, was having his first start for Elliott when scoring comfortably at Fairyhouse and is relatively unexposed. MAXXUM is another improver for the yard and he was very impressive in a Navan handicap. He has a 17lb rise to contend with but is progressing fast enough to defy the extra. Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar is well up to winning one of these as is Maze Runner, who was in fine form on the Flat in the summer. Grand National runner-up Any Second Now reverts to hurdles on a 27lb lower mark and should be fit enough to do himself justice.
Run For Oscar (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, left third last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 13, 5 3/4l behind Botox Has (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Vina Ardanza (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, jumped right 1st, progress from 4 out, 3rd before 2 out where not fluent, pushed along in 2nd from last, ridden and switched to outer inside final 100 yards, kept on strongly, just failed, 2nd of 18, shd behind Watch House Cross (11-2) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Eric Bloodaxe (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Made all, 1 length lead halfway, pushed along and asserted after 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f sft in Nov beating Captain Conby (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Jungle Prose (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Always prominent, close 4th 3 out, disputed lead travelling well next, pushed along to lead after last, stayed on well inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov beating Lord Erskine (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 23 ran.
Any Second Now (IRE) 15-2fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, every chance run-in, no extra and held from elbow, 2nd of 40, 2 1/4l behind Noble Yeats (10-10) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
The Jam Man (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Never going that well in rear, well behind 15th, pulled up before 18th, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Maze Runner (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders and 5th halfway, ridden from 3f out, no impression in 4th from 1f out and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 20, 9 1/2l behind Drop The Anchor (8-7) at Naas 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
Au Fleuron (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along towards rear halfway, slight mistake 5 out, soon rear and no extra, 12th of 14, dist behind Impervious (11-5) at Wexford 2m hvy in Oct.
Ballyshannon Rose (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led, joined 2 out, ridden and extended advantage soon after, staying on when slightly untidy jump and headed, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Dolcita (10-8) at Clonmel 2m 4f lst (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
A Great View (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along and some progress on outer from 3 out, no impression before next, kept on same pace before last, 9th of 18, 24 1/4l behind Watch House Cross (11-2) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Max Flamingo (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Prominent and keen early, not fluent 1st, soon mid-division, mistake 9th, towards rear when slightly hampered next, mistake 6 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct.
Perceval Legallois (FR) 7-2 (11-5) In touch, raced wide, not fluent at 1st, 6th at 6th, 5th after 4 out, progress in 3rd after 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed last where not fluent, kept on well closing stages, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Macgiloney (11-12) at Listowel 3m hcp gd in Sep.
Coventry (IRE) 3-1fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, 8th at last, kept on one pace, 8th of 15, 8 1/2l behind Shewearsitwell (11-5) at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding in Nov.
Lord Erskine (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inner, close 5th 3 out, travelling well and dispute lead 2 out, soon ridden, headed after last, kept on same pace in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 23, 1 1/2l behind Jungle Prose (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Dromore Lad (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, not fluent at 5th, dropped to 15th after 11th, headway before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, not fluent in moderate 6th 2 out, weakened, 6th of 17, 36 1/4l behind Captain Kangaroo (10-0) at Cork 3m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Futurum Regem (IRE) 250-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, closer 4 out, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, no extra from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened, tailed off, 8th of 9, dist behind Home By The Lee (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Nov.
Maxxum (IRE) 4-5fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, 8th halfway, some headway approaching straight and went 2nd 2 out, led travelling well before last, drew clear run-in, very easily, won at Navan 2m 6f hcp Yielding in Nov beating Routine Excellence (11-8) by 9l, 22 ran.
Portstorm 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inner, ridden in 7th 3 out, no impression, 6th of 23, 11 1/4l behind Jungle Prose (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
My Design (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Led, 2 lengths clear halfway, pushed along and joined when jumped right 2 out, headed early run-in, ridden and no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Champella (10-13) at Wexford 2m 5f hvy in Oct.
Wingin A Prayer (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened, 17th of 23, 36 1/4l behind Jungle Prose (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Jiving Jerry (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) In rear, headway into 8th 3 out, soon ridden, 5th at last, kept on one pace, 4th of 23, 9l behind Jungle Prose (11-12) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Belle Metal (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Towards rear, not fluent at 3rd, 9th after 5th, not fluent 4 out, good headway on inner to close before 2 out, lost place and weakened before last, 7th of 12, 31 1/4l behind Direct Image (11-2) at Punchestown 3m hcp gd in May.
Takarengo (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway after 2 out, no impression in 6th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 15, 5l behind Shewearsitwell (11-5) at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding in Nov.
