disputed lead early, prominent in 2nd, slightly slow 10th, on terms 12th, led from 4 out, joined before 3 out and pecked slightly, soon regained lead, reduced lead and stayed on well closing stages
disputed lead early, soon led, slight mistake 10th, joined 12th, slight mistake 4 out, soon headed, kept on same pace without matching principals from before last
mid-division early, 8th after 8th, slightly impeded 9th, slight mistake 6 out, under pressure from 4 out, fell 3 out
waited with, soon in rear and pushed along at stages early, slightly impeded 9th, slight mistake 11th, soon pushed along again, headway but still plenty to do from 2 out, went 2nd run-in, stayed on well without reaching winner
soon tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, 3rd after 8th, 5th and fell 3 out
waited with, slightly bumped with rival 5th, 10th after 8th, badly hampered 9th, raced on outer and some headway 4 out, soon pushed along, fell 3 out
waited with, some slight mistakes and pushed along at stages early, slightly bumped 5th, 11th after 8th, headway and impeded 3 out, 4th and slight mistake 2 out, kept on without matching principals from before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, disputed 4th after 8th, bad mistake and unseated rider 9th
pushed along briefly early and at stages after, soon mid-division, slightly slow 8th, soon raced in 9th, closed up from 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon no extra
mid-division early, mistake 6th, slight mistake next, disputed 6th after 8th, badly hampered 9th, mistake 11th, mistake 4 out, soon pushed along and no impression, no extra and jumped left last
mid-division early, disputed 6th after 8th, slight mistake 4 out, on terms before next, soon headed, kept on without matching front pair closing stages
prominent, disputed 4th after 8th, on terms before 3 out where fell
Out Sam would have made short work of these in his prime but those days look long gone and it may be significant that Jamie Codd partners stablemate Minellafordollars, who gets his favoured heavy ground for the first time over fences. Several of these ran in the handicap won by Stones And Roses here on New Year’s Eve. Screaming Colours, with Partick Mullins in the saddle today, just did best but Major Destination, Cushinstown Finest, Spancil Hill and Chosen Hour weren’t far behind. High Sparrow is back in the right grade after pulling up in a Grade B at Fairyhouse in November but Derek O’Connor’s mount Fairly Legal tries a new trip. ATLANTIC SHORE never seems to run a bad race and his rider’s 7lb claim could make a huge difference in a race like this.
Atlantic Shore (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Soon tracked leaders, not fluent 5th and pushed along briefly, 4th after 6th, soon 3rd, 2nd approaching 4 out where slightly slow, effort straight, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Treacysenniscorthy (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
High Sparrow (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Disputed lead early, prominent, not fluent 5th, slight mistake 9th, disputed 2nd after 11th, slightly slow 12th and not always fluent after, on terms approaching 7 out, soon led, joined from 5 out, headed 3 out, weakened and pulled up next, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Nov.
Mormon (IRE) 13-8 (12-0) Prominent early, tracked leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along after 4 out, 3rd and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Escaria Ten (12-0) at Thurles 3m 1f sft in Dec.
Screaming Colours (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Waited with towards rear, slight mistake 7th, headway approaching 6 out, 7th approaching straight and pushed along, no impression before last until ran on without troubling winner run-in into 2nd at finish, 2nd of 12, 8l behind Stones And Roses (11-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Out Sam 6-1 (11-4) Towards rear, last 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went never dangerous 4th flat, 4th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Some Neck (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Fairly Legal (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Mid-division early, 9th at 5th, headway and effort straight, slight mistake 2 out, kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Crossed My Mind (10-0) at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Spades Are Trumps (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, reminders after 6th and slow 8th, pushed along and no impression before 4 out, weakened, 10th of 17, dist behind Daly Tiger (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Major Destination (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, disputed 3rd after 8th, not fluent 12th, slight mistake 5 out, effort and slight mistake 3 out, disputed 4th approaching straight and pushed along, chased winner and no impression and slight mistake last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 12, 8 1/4l behind Stones And Roses (11-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Cappacurry Zak (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 32 1/4l behind Wishmoor (10-12) at Limerick 2m 7f hcp hvy in Dec.
Minellafordollars (IRE) 15-2 (10-9) Held up, towards rear halfway, no impression 4 out, soon no extra, 6th of 11, dist behind Discordantly (11-6) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Oct.
Cushinstown Finest (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Close up, led from 3rd, soon joined, headed approaching 6th, back on terms from 8th, led from 10th, mistake 5 out and headed, lost position before 3 out, disputed 4th approaching straight, no impression and kept on same pace from before last, 4th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Stones And Roses (11-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Spancil Hill (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Mid-division early, slight mistake 3rd, disputed 7th after 8th, mistake 6 out, effort and mistake 2 out, 6th approaching straight and pushed along, kept on same pace from before last, 6th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Stones And Roses (11-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Chosen Hour (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, disputed 3rd after 8th, not fluent 12th, pushed along approaching straight, chased winner and no impression and slight mistake last, no extra and one pace after, 7th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Stones And Roses (11-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.