tracked leader in 2nd, led from 8th, clear from 11th, ridden and reduced advantage before 2 out, strongly pressed entering straight, headed at last, kept on one pace in 2nd inside final furlong
mid-division, dropped to rear and reminder at 6th, off pace when badly hampered at 9th, soon trailing, pulled up after 10th
tracked leaders, pushed along in 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression on leaders in 3rd after 2 out, 4th and slight mistake last, no impression
led, headed 8th, dropped to 6th 3 out, soon ridden, 5th 2 out, moderate 3rd at last, no extra
towards rear, progress from 5 out, went 2nd and chased leader 3 out, dropped to 4th and ridden before 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders on outer, 4th on wide outer 3 out, 2nd travelling well 2 out, pushed along and improved to lead at last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, ridden in 7th 3 out, soon no impression, trailing straight, finished tired, tailed off
rear of mid-division, jumped left at 3rd, fell 9th
mid-division, slight mistake 5th, mistake and pushed along 11th, ridden in 5th 3 out, no impression
in rear, slight mistake 6tgh, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
Notice To Close battled to a short-head victory here on New Year's Eve and a 5lb rise is unlikely to prevent another big effort. TEMPTATIONINMILAN has won just once in 19 starts, at Limerick in September, but he's run well twice here subsequently and can double his winning tally. Fakiera is 0-7 over fences but has been running well enough to get into contention while Krabat looks a threat having been placed in a much stronger handicap on heavy ground at Limerick. Balkito ended last season with a double and will have needed his reappearance over timber here in October.
Fakiera (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, tracked leaders after 2nd, 2nd when bumped 7th, disputed halfway and led 11th, mistake and headed 4 out, 4th next, ridden and no impression in 5th after 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Must Be Obeyed (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Eurobot 25-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders when fell 1st, at Leopardstown 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Balkito (FR) 10-3 (10-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 4 out, led 3 out, soon headed and ridden, weakened before straight, 7th of 13, 20l behind Grozni (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp gd in Oct.
Notice To Close 14-1 (11-8) Prominent, tracked leader after 1st, disputed 4th, hampered and left in lead next, pushed along 4 out, ridden after 2 out and joined before last, led last and went on, stayed on well, all out, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Angels Dawn (11-7) by shd, 12 ran.
History Of Fashion (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, in touch in 7th when mistake and unseated rider 6 out, at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Royal Thief (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Soon towards rear, brought down 3rd, at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Nov.
John Adams (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 4th when mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Krabat (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Soon tracked leaders, took closer order from 3 out and lead before next, soon pressed and headed, ridden before last, no extra and dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Maskada (10-13) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Shantou Lucky (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, slight mistake 3rd, headway to 4th 4 out, not fluent next and slight mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Sir Bob (10-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp sft in Dec.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, soon close up in 3rd, not fluent 5th and 7th, pushed along in 4th 2 out, ridden and no impression in 5th when left 3rd last, soon 4th, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Sir Bob (10-13) at Limerick 2m 7f hcp hvy in Dec.
Temptationinmilan (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, dropped to rear of mid-division before 4th (normal 5th) where unseated rider, at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Dec.
