mid-division on inner, took keen hold, bad mistake 5th, fell 7th
tracked leaders in 6th, headway into 2nd 3 out, led next and soon ridden clear, reduced advantage inside final furlong, stayed on well
mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon ridden and no impression, never a factor
always behind, pushed along early, hampered 7th and rider briefly lost irons, no impression from halfway, never a factor
mid-division, 10th 5 out, ridden and no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders, jumped right at times, jumped badly right at 6th, disputed lead briefly 4 out, soon headed and ridden, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, headway to lead before 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, 8th 5 out, mistake next, ridden and no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders, disputed lead briefly 5 out, headed next, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before last
rear of mid-division on outer, progress after 4 out, ridden and no impression from 3 out
mid-division, ridden in 6th 3 out, slight mistake next, no impression
mid-division, headway after 4 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 2nd at last, stayed on well run-in, not reach winner
tracked leaders, 7th 5 out, ridden in 8th 3 out, kept on same pace
always towards rear, no impression from 7 out, pulled up before 5 out
led, joined briefly 5 out, led next, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, hampered at 7th, no impression from 5 out, pulled up after 3 out
prominent, 4th 5 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division on inner, no impression from after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
always towards rear, reminder 8th, soon weakened, pulled up after 5 out
mid-division on inner, bumped at 1st and hampered at 7th, headway into 5th and ridden 3 out, 4th next, kept on same pace
Gordon Elliott has landed this nice prize for the past three years and has six engaged this time. Jockey bookings rarely give many clues though Jack Kennedy is on board Grade 3 winner GENERAL PRINCIPLE, who had a nice pipe-opener over hurdles at Clonmel and looks to have as good a chance as any. Davy Russell has the ride on Mala Beach, a once very promising novice who looked on the way back after returning from a very long absence at Galway last month. Willie Mullins saddles Acapella Bourgeois, who is having his first start for the yard after transferring from Sandra Hughes. He won twice here earlier this year, including a Grade 2, so has to be respected. Hurricane Darwin won a handicap here in September then took advantage of a lower hurdles mark at Clonmel and though Bonny Kate ended the last campaign out of form she finished a close third in this last year and could get closer this time if held up for a little longer.
Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Led, joined 9th, led again 6 out, headed 3 out, no extra 2 out, 5th of 7, 20 1/4l behind Disko (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Mala Beach (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) In rear early, soon raced in 4th, closed up into 3rd before 3 out, tracked leaders on inner approaching straight, 2nd over 1f out, kept on well without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind A Genie In Abottle (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Oct.
Potters Point (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along and no impression in 5th after 3 out, no extra, kept on one pace from before last, 4th of 7, 28l behind Rathvinden (11-8) at Tipperary 2m 4f (1) hvy in Oct.
Wounded Warrior (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Prominent, 3rd before 8th, 4th at 10th, dropped to 9th and niggled along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
General Principle (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, checked after 2nd, headway approaching 3 out and led before 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in, 4th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Folsom Blue (11-1) at Clonmel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Arkwrisht (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Prominent, 4th before 8th, progress to 2nd at 10th, travelled well to lead before 2 out where mistake, soon headed, no impression in 3rd at last, kept on one pace, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 14, 16 3/4l behind Logical Song (10-2) at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Bonny Kate (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) No extra 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Last Goodbye (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon no impression, mistake next, 7th of 15, 20 3/4l behind Woodland Opera (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Rogue Angel (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leader, 5th before 8th, 5th at 10th, progress to 3rd before 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 14, 29 1/2l behind Logical Song (10-2) at Cork 3m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Hurricane Darwin (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division early, held up and soon well off pace, closed up travelling smoothly before 2 out, on terms at last where slight mistake, soon led and stayed on best, comfortably, won at Clonmel 3m hcp sft in Nov beating Hollow Tree (11-2) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Space Cadet (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division early, 6th from 6th, slightly slow 7th and 9th, mistake 5 out, disputed 6th before straight and no impression, one pace, 7th of 13, 14l behind Sizing Codelco (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Dont Tell No One (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Held up, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd before 2 out, ridden into 2nd entering straight, kept on same pace without reaching winner closing stages, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Calino D'airy (11-7) at Galway 2m 2f hvy in Oct.
Tesseract (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Towards rear, not always fluent jumping, pushed along briefly 6th, closed 3 out, prominent approaching straight, challenged and slightly impeded approaching last where on terms, stayed on well run-in to just prevail at finish, won at Wexford 2m 4f hcp hvy in Oct beating Full Cry (11-6) by shd, 8 ran.
The Winkler (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, 5th at 8th, left 4th after 10th, ridden into 3rd before 2 out, improved to 2nd after last, ridden and kept on same pace, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Call It Magic (11-6) at Galway 2m 7f hcp hvy in Oct.
He Rock's (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, progress to 3rd at 5th, improved to 2nd after 9th, dropped to 3rd after last, soon ridden, no extra, 3rd of 8, 20 1/2l behind Call It Magic (11-6) at Galway 2m 7f hcp hvy in Oct.
As De Pique (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Prominent, tracked leaders when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Icantsay (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Made all, went clear after 2nd, distance clear before halfway, mistake 3 out, not fluent next, pushed along and and kept on well, reduced advantage close home, won at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Aa Bee See (10-7) by 10l, 10 ran.
Don Vincenzo (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, slightly impeded 5th, closed to lead approaching straight, slight mistake 2 out, edged right approaching last where joined, soon headed and one pace, 3rd of 8, 6 1/4l behind Tesseract (11-0) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp hvy in Oct.
Whatareudoingtome (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up early, soon mid-division, improved to chase leaders from 5th, closer after 3 out, ridden to challenge next, disputed before last, 2nd and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Hurricane Darwin (11-2) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Paper Lantern (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Towards rear, never a factor, ridden in 7th after 5 out, no extra after 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 34 3/4l behind Poormans Hill (10-8) at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Nov.
Poormans Hill (IRE) 9-10fav (12-1) Rear of mid-division on outer, headway into 5th 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to dispute lead approaching last, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Witness Of Fashion (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp sft in Nov.
Roi Des Francs (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Hampered 8th, reminders 11th, pulled up before 17th, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
