soon mid-division, 5th at 3rd, not fluent 5th, soon towards rear, under pressure from 10th, no extra in 9th when fell 2 out
chased leaders, 6th at 3rd, 3rd 3 out, 2nd 2 out, soon no impression on winner, kept on same pace run-in and dropped to 3rd on line
soon in rear and detached, pushed along briefly after 7th, 8th 3 out, some headway but no impression straight, kept on run-in into 2nd on line, not trouble winner
soon led and disputed, inclined to jump slightly left, joined 10th, headed 3 out where not fluent, dropped to 3rd next, no extra and eased straight, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, 4th at 3rd, slight mistake 9th and pushed along briefly, pushed along before 3 out where 6th, 7th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
disputed lead early, jumped slightly left 3rd where 3rd, slightly slow 6th, 4th 3 out where not fluent, 5th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
chased leaders, 7th at 3rd, pushed along 10th, soon in rear and no impression, tailed off
held up, hit 1st, 8th at 3rd, 5th 3 out, 6th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
towards rear very early, soon close up, on terms 10th, led 3 out, clear from before next, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, dropped to 9th at next, 7th 3 out, 4th 2 out, soon 3rd and no impression, 4th and one pace closing stages
Sarabad doesn't win often and ran a shocker when last seen in November. Winning point-to-pointer and hunter Easyondeye made a bad mistake on his handicap debut at Thurles which put him out of contention and he's better than that. He finished behind The Admiral Benbow in that race but it would be no surprise to see him reverse the form. Harangue went to Limerick in good form and with a chance at the weights but ran moderately, but Pencilhimin completed a double over hurdles before a poor run at Navan and can revert to fences on a 19lb lower mark. THE BOOK THIEF has had 31 starts over fences and only won once but very nearly doubled his tally at Limerick where he may have won but for a mistake at the last when the veteran Preswell Lad was 10 lengths behind. Jonny Burke's presence in the saddle can see him go one better as Miss Xian looks as though a longer trip would suit.
Sarabad (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Led, increased lead 6th, 8 lengths clear halfway, reduced lead 12th, headed before 4 out, no extra, weakened, completely tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Vasco Du Mee (11-4) at Down Royal 3m hcp chs in Nov.
Easyondeye (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Towards rear, progress after 6th, 5th halfway, mistake 8th, dropped towards rear after next, no extra, 6th of 10, well behind Black Zero (10-12) at Thurles 2m 2f cond hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Dec.
Harangue (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden after 3 out and no impression from before 2 out, 9th of 11, well behind Black Zero (11-10) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-109 in Dec.
Pencilhimin (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, soon no extra, 15th of 23, 47l behind Lite Duties (10-6) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hdl in Dec.
The Book Thief (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, soon raced in 3rd, on terms 5 out, just led when mistake last, headed, rallied well, just failed, 2nd of 10, nk behind Character Actor (10-12) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp chs (10yo+) in Dec.
Miss Xian (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Mid-division, slow jump 1st, closer in 4th 4 out, ridden from next, moderate 5th after 2 out, jumped right and left 4th at last, no extra, 4th of 11, 16l behind Sword Fish (11-1) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs sft.
Preswell Lad (IRE) 13-2 (10-1) Chased leaders early, soon towards rear, slightly slow 2nd, last after 7th, progress 9th, got on terms before 3 out, dropped to 4th 2 out, soon no impression, 4th of 10, 11l behind Character Actor (10-12) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp chs (10yo+) in Dec.
The Admiral Benbow (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, 8th halfway, hampered 9th, 5th 4 out, left 3rd after 2 out, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Black Zero (10-12) at Thurles 2m 2f cond hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Dec.
Treacy's Star (IRE) Evensfav (11-1) Towards rear, 7th after 9th, 6th 4 out, driven after 3 out, no impression, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Tyrone House (11-1) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 sft, 8 ran.
Fla's Long Shot (IRE) 25-1 (9-8) Mid-division, mistake 4th, 7th with a circuit to race, mistake 5 out, ridden after 4 out and soon no impression, 8th of 12, 16l behind Lily Of Killarney (11-7) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 gf in Sep.
