held up in 5th and slight mistake 1st, ran freely early, left 4th at 5th, ridden before 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace (finished 5th - promoted to 4th)
settled behind leaders, slight mistake 3rd, left 3rd at 5th, mistake 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, ridden into 2nd entering straight, challenged last, disputed run-in and kept on well, just held home (promoted to 1st)
held up in rear and slight mistake 1st, ran freely early, slight mistake 4th, ridden into 4th entering straight, kept on into 3rd last, no impression on leaders run-in (finished 3rd - promoted to 2nd)
settled behind leaders, left 2nd at 5th, slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression before last, kept on one pace (finished 4th - promoted to 3rd)
led, headed before 2nd where mistake, chased leader, left in lead 5th, ridden before last, challenged last, disputed run-in and kept on well, just prevailed close home (disqualified as weighed out 4lb light)
chased leader in 2nd, led before 2nd, fell 5th
Some smart performers have won this in recent years including Bog Warrior in 2012. Tony Martin's charge is equally at home over hurdles and fences and shouldn't be judged on his latest run in a Grade 1 over timber at Auteuil in the summer. His stablemate Blackmail looked one of last year's most exciting prospects with facile victories at Galway and Bellewstown though an absence since last August is an obvious concern. Willie Mullins has an excellent record in the race and Daneking, who looked very smart when completing a double earlier this year, ran much too freely when fancied for last month's Gerry Fielden at Newbury. Shantou Flyer would have a chance on his best hurdles form but didn't run well in the Grade 1 Drinmore over fences at Fairyhouse last month so the vote goes to JENNIES JEWEL. She landed a Grade 3 chase last month before reverting to hurdles at Navan where she led for a long way before fading into third when conceding lumps of weight to her rivals.
Blackmail (FR) 1-7fav (11-12) Made all, slight mistake 4 out, eased clear before 2 out, not extended, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f hdl gd in Aug '13 beating Bob Le Beau (11-12) by 17l, 3 ran.
He'llberemembered (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up, badly hampered 3rd, tended to jump left, 18th at 8th, one pace from after 4 out, 11th of 25, 19l behind Balbriggan (9-12) at Navan 3m hcap ch sft in Nov.
Daneking 9-2 (11-2) Raced keenly, led, joined 3 out, soon headed, lost 2nd before next, blundered and weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 37l behind L'ami Serge (10-7) at Newbury 2m Lstd hcp hdl 0-155 (1) sft in Nov.
Bog Warrior (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) in a race won by Gemix (10-10) at Auteuil(FR) 3m 1f hdl G1 sft in Jun, 13 ran.
Sadler's Risk (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, bad mistake 2nd, mistakes 7th and 8th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 8th of 13, 32l behind Valseur Lido (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) in Nov.
Jennies Jewel (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 6 out, improved to lead 3 out, soon ridden, headed before last, no extra in 3rd run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 23, 5l behind Lite Duties (10-6) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hdl.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Disputed early, soon led, slight mistake 6th, ridden and challenged 3 out, headed after 2 out, no extra in 3rd before last, lost 3rd run-in, 4th of 5, 10l behind No More Heroes (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1).
