chased leaders, 5th halfway, improved to 2nd before 5 out, ridden and no impression leader entering straight, kept on same pace
chased leaders, mistake 1st, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened
always towards rear, tailed off
slowly away, always behind, jumped left, pulled up before 7 out
made all, clear before 2 out, bad mistake last, kept on, easily
chased leaders, bad mistake 2nd, soon lost place, pulled up before next
rear of mid-division, ridden and weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 4 out
mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression 5 out, kept on one pace
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden before 4 out and dropped off leaders, 5th and no extra 3 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th and no impression 4 out, moderate 4th entering straight, kept on one pace
chased leader in 2nd, 3rd before 5 out, ridden and no extra before 4 out, moderate 6th 3 out, weakened and tailed off
mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden before 4 out, some headway in 4th 3 out, moderate 3rd entering straight, no impression leaders, kept on one pace
While there are several potentially useful performers here, none stand out more than FLAT OUT. Willie Mullins' charge landed two bumpers before an easy success on his hurdling debut and then ran two excellent races in Grade 1 contests at Cheltenham and here before landing a minor race at Sligo in May. He makes his chasing bow and his yard continues in top form. Gran Torino, another very useful hurdler, must be forgiven his debut run over fences here on New Year's Eve as he sprawled badly on landing at the eighth. He could turn out to be useful in this sphere as could Lough Ferrib, four times a winner over timber but a bit long in the tooth to be making a chasing debut. Healys Bar was the best of these over timber and made a bright start over fences behind Noble Prince over two miles here but has since struggled in much more testing conditions. Solstice Knight, returning after a long absence but likely to make a decent chaser, Ad Idem and Paradis De Thaix make this an interesting contest.
Ad Idem 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, 5th 4 out, ridden into 3rd when fell 3 out, in a race won by Bostons Angel (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs in Nov, 11 ran.
Annual Report (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, bad mistake 8th, soon lost place, ridden in 7th and no impression before 4 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bostons Angel (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs in Nov, 11 ran.
Caduceus (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Chased clear leader, distant 5th halfway, no impression when fell 5 out, in a race won by Bob Lingo (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f beg chase, 8 ran.
Don't Tell Boo (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Slowly away, towards rear, some headway in 9th when brought down 5 out, in a race won by Top Twig (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 7f hts chs hvy in Dec, 15 ran.
Flat Out (FR) 1-5fav (11-9) Made all, 1l lead when pecked last, pushed out early run-in, quickly clear, easily, won at Sligo 2m hdl gd in May beating Mick The Tooth (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Gran Torino (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division when mistake and sprawled badly on landing 8th, not recover and pulled up, in a race won by Royal De La Thinte (11-11) at Punchestown 3m beg chs hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Grey Stone Road (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Prominent early, weakened before halfway, behind when pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Strongpoint (11-12) at Tipperary 2m 7f beg chase gf in Jun, 15 ran.
Lough Ferrib (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inner, 7th halfway, pushed along in 8th after 3 out, moderate 4th approaching last where mistake, no extra, 5th of 15, 11l behind Jack Cool (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Oct.
Lusiad (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden in 5th before 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, well behind Top Twig (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 7f hts chs hvy in Dec.
Nine Arches 50-1 (11-12) Held up, 10th halfway, headway into 3rd 4 out, 5th after 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, well behind Oscars Well (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Nov.
Not A Native 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders early, dropped towards rear halfway, ridden in moderate 7th and no impression 4 out, kept on one pace to 5th close home, 5th of 10, well behind Tharawaat (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Dec.
Paradis de Thaix (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, 2nd and no impression before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Tharawaat (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Dec.
Rocklet (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led before 3rd, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and no extra, 4th approaching last, left 3rd, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 31l behind Tharawaat (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Dec.
Iheardu (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division on outer, 7th when mistake and under pressure at 9th, in a race won by Royal De La Thinte (11-11) at Punchestown 3m beg chs hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Healys Bar (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division on outer, 6th halfway, no extra approaching 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Bostons Angel (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) in Dec, 9 ran.
Solstice Knight (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, went 5th entering straight, 3rd 2 out, 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 17, 9l behind Sports Line (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f nov chs hvy in Nov '09.
The Real Tyson (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Roi Du Mee (11-7) at Limerick 2m 6f beg chs in Dec, 16 ran.
