held up, 5th halfway, left 4th 4 out, ridden next, no impression in 3rd entering straight, kept on one pace
held up in rear, hampered 4 out, soon no impression, mistake 2 out, moderate 4th before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake 3rd and slight mistake 4th, slight mistake 6 out, slight mistake 3 out and ridden, soon no extra, weakened before next
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st and 2nd, 4th and slight mistake 6th, fell 4 out
tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 2nd halfway, disputed 4 out, ridden in 2nd after 3 out, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, slight mistake last
led, not fluent 2nd, joined 4 out, led travelling best after 3 out, pushed out to assert after 2 out, kept on strongly to go clear last, easily
Gordon Elliott has won the last two of these and Mars Harper had competed at a high level over hurdles before a very positive chasing bow behind stablemate Mighty Potter at Down Royal. However, he was beaten 17 lengths when placed behind HALLOWED STAR in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Galway and the latter has had two starts over fences on that track, winning very easily last month. Another from the Elliott yard, Grand Paradis, has had plenty of experience over fences but jumped poorly on his return to action at Cork a couple of weeks ago. Midnight Run has been unlucky enough to come up against some smart chasers but that could be the case again here while both Gaelic Arc and Barnacullia will need to improve.
Barnacullia (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th and pecked 2 out, headway to lead early run-in, pushed along and kept on well final furlong, won at Galway 2m 2f Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Punitive (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Gaelic Arc (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden before 2 out, no impression on leaders in 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 7 1/2l behind Pied Piper (11-10) at Down Royal 2m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Grand Paradis (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in close 2nd, not fluent at 7th and 10th, dropped to 3rd 3 out where not fluent, no impression on leaders 2 out where slight mistake, weakened, 5th of 6, 27 1/2l behind El Barra (11-0) at Cork 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Hallowed Star (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Led, increased advantage at 2nd, clear at 5th, reduced lead before 8th, not fluent 3 out, travelled well before 2 out, asserted and clear after last, eased closing stages, easily, won at Galway 2m 2f sft in Oct beating Caesar Rock (11-12) by 19l, 8 ran.
Mars Harper 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd throughout, not fluent at 5th, ridden and pressed winner briefly 2 out, no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Mighty Potter (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Midnight Run (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Led and disputed, slight mistake 2nd, headed before next and tracked leaders, lost place before 6th and held up, 5th halfway, closer in 4th entering straight, ridden and disputed 2nd after 2 out, not fluent last, no extra in 3rd run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Adamantly Chosen (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) gd in Oct.
