in rear, slight mistake 5th, ridden and some progress 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, 5th 5 out, went 3rd 3rd 2 out, ridden entering straight, 2nd and mistake at last, stayed on well run-in, led near line
prominent, 2nd 3 out, ridden from next, dropped to 4th before last, no impression
tracked leaders, mistake 4th and lost position briefly, went 3rd 4 out, 3rd and pecked on landing next, soon ridden and weakened
rear of mid-division, mistake 2nd and pushed along briefly next, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
mid-division, jumped left and mistake 4 out, weakened from next
in rear, some progress into 6th 2 out, went 3rd at last, kept on one paced run-in
disputed lead early, mistake 2nd and headed next, gradually weakened from halfway, trailing and pulled up after 2 out
disputed lead, led from 3rd, ridden clear approaching last, kept on run-in, headed and no extra near line
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, jumped left at times, on outer and slight mistake 5th, 4th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
Denis Hogan won this three times in succession a few years ago so Eiri Na Casca is respected, despite struggling since his victory on good ground at Galway. Show And Go has continued in good form since scoring at Downpatrick in September though he's now 12lb higher while Effernock Lad is up 5lb after dead-heating at Navan. HARD BOUGHT almost made a costly last-fence error when scoring over 2m2f at Clonmel and though possibly finding this on the short side the soft ground should play to his strengths and he's still 9lb lower than his hurdles mark so gets the vote. Macs Legend has never won and has a long absence to overcome.
Macs Legend (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, slight mistakes 3rd and 7th, not fluent 4 out, on terms 2 out, mistake last, kept on well, headed near line, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Follow The Swallow (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f Yielding in Mar.
Show And Go (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, last from 6th, went 7th before straight, 5th and pecked 2 out, no impression when hampered last, one pace, 3rd of 14, 14l behind Smadynium (11-10) at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Effernock Lad (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Led, pressed straight, kept on well run-in and disputed lead at line, won at Navan 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Flemenstorm (11-1), 11 ran.
Donnellan (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 7th after 1st, 6th approaching straight, one pace, 7th of 13, 14 3/4l behind I Knew Well (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Ballycahane (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, soon 2nd, challenged 3 out, no impression in 4th at last, one pace, 4th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Effernock Lad (11-1) at Navan 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Hard Bought (IRE) 6-4fav (10-0) Held up, 4th halfway, progress into 3rd 5 out, slight mistake 4 out, challenged entering straight, led before 2 out, pressed 2 out, soon ridden to assert, mistake last, strongly pressed run-in, all out close home and just held on, won at Clonmel 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Nov beating Bellgrove (10-10) by hd, 6 ran.
Glen Ode (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, 4th from 6th, not fluent 3 out, dropped to 9th before straight and no extra, 9th of 14, dist behind Smadynium (11-10) at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Rufino (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, dropped to 12th after 4th, no impression, never a factor, 10th of 12, dist behind Royal Caviar (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f sft in Dec.
Mount Brandon (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, 5th from 5th, no impression from before 4 out, soon no extra and pulled up before last, at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp sft in Nov.
Dark Outsider (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders on inner, dropped to 7th 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression in 3rd before last, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 14, 12 3/4l behind Capture The Drama (11-10) at Wexford 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Eiri Na Casca (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, jumped right 4th, pushed along in 10th from 3 out, soon no extra and pulled up before next, at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
