mid-division, dropped to rear of mid-division at 5th, mistake 6th and dropped to rear when pulled up quickly
mid-division, ridden in 6th 3 out, moderate 5th and no impression when fell 2 out
led, mistakes 3rd and 8th, ridden and headed entering straight, weakened
soon tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hold, ridden in 4th 3 out, weakened
towards rear, mistake 1st, pushed along briefly at 6th, ridden and headway into 5th when mistake 3 out, soon no impression on leaders
tracked leader in 2nd, led travelling well entering straight, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no impression on winner, dropped to moderate 3rd at last, weakened run-in
tracked leaders, ridden entering straight, weakened
rear of mid-division, pushed along in 11th 3 out, ridden next, kept on without threatening run-in, never nearer
towards rear, headway into 7th 3 out, ridden before next, moderate 4th at last, kept on without threatening winner to go moderate 2nd inside final furlong
rear of mid-division on inner, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, ridden at 2nd, under pressure in 10th 3 out, hampered next, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 3 out, moderate 3rd next, soon no impression on leaders
mid-division, headway into 2nd 3 out, led travelling well next, pushed along and went clear before last, eased inside final furlong, very easily
Lord Erskine has only had two runs over hurdles since winning this last year and been well beaten in both. Jimmy Jimmy hasn't run since landing a Punchestown maiden last September and makes his handicap debut while Fissa disappointed when odds-on at Downpatrick though may just have needed the run. The latter's stable companion GASPARD DU SEUIL has run into a couple of progressive types in the past few weeks and only just failed to concede 15lb to Farrawaybay here two weeks ago. He can go one better though Fiveaftermidnight wasn't far behind in that latter event and has to be on the shortlist.
Jimmy Jimmy (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Prominent, slight mistakes early, on terms approaching straight, soon headed, renewed effort and left in lead last and badly hampered, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 5f mdn gd in Sep beating Legacy Thor (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Fissa (FR) 8-13fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd when mistake 3 out, pushed along and on terms next, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression disputing 3rd at last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 7 3/4l behind Kingston Retreat (10-13) at Downpatrick 2m 5f mdn sft in Oct.
Thereisnodoubt (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Settled behind leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra before straight, 10th of 11, dist behind Dads Lad (10-3) at Cork 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Thousand Tears (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) In rear early, took keen hold, mid-division at 5th, ridden and closer in 4th 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Easca Peasca (11-3) at Navan 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Gealach (IRE) 80-1 (9-13) Waited with towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, soon reminder, one pace without threatening from after 4 out, 11th of 20, 33 1/2l behind Sassy Yet Classy (10-3) at Punchestown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Gaspard Du Seuil (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Disputed lead, led from 4th, joined entering straight, led again travelling well 3 out, ridden clear after 2 out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Farrawaybay (10-11) at Navan 2m 6f hcp gd in Nov.
Buzz Light (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, lost place before 3 out, soon no extra in rear, weakened, last of 8, dist behind Top Bandit (11-2) at Punchestown 2m Yielding in Nov.
Sweet Sting (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Rear, 17th after 6th, no headway, never a factor, pulled up before 2 out, at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Robinstown (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Unseated rider before start, tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 6th halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no extra in straight, 10th of 18, 21 3/4l behind Socially Distant (11-8) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Mozart De L'aube (FR) (10-12) at Dieppe 2m 6f hvy in Jun.
Reine Fee (IRE) 2-1 (11-9) Chased leader in 3rd, jumped right at 2nd, under pressure and reminders after 4 out, no impression on winner in 2nd before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Majestic Maid (11-9) at Roscommon 2m 5f gd in Sep.
Skol 14-1 (12-0) Soon led, pushed along and joined before straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression, slightly impeded and switched left run-in, one pace, 4th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Willaston (12-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Oct.
Futurum Regem (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Towards rear, some progress 3 out, ridden in moderate 6th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Idas Boy (11-6) at Thurles 2m 7f mdn Good - Yielding in Nov.
Lord Erskine (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Mid-division, progress to 5th after 6th, lost place and weakened after 3 out, 12th of 18, dist behind Aldo The Apache (10-5) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Fiveaftermidnight (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outer, ridden in 8th 3 out, moderate 5th at last, kept on without threatening in 3rd close home, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Farrawaybay (10-11) at Navan 2m 6f hcp gd in Nov.
Macs Charm (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Chased leader, 5th after 8th, improved to 3rd before 2 out, progress to 2nd before last, soon ridden, kept on, not match winner, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Fangio De Vassy (12-0) at Wexford 2m 4f mdn hvy in Oct.