mid-division, 7th after 5th, headway and effort into straight, kept on same pace from before last
waited with towards rear, 8th after 5th, pushed along and headway on outer from before straight, kept on same pace without threatening from before last
prominent, soon led, slight mistake 3rd, pushed along into straight, stayed on well run-in
tracked leaders, 3rd after 5th, pushed along 3 out, kept on same pace straight
led early, soon raced in 2nd, slight mistake 2 out, soon pushed along to challenge, no extra and one pace straight
tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, disputed 5th after 5th, pushed along into straight, soon one pace
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, disputed 5th after 5th, pushed along into straight, kept on same pace from before last
waited with towards rear, slight mistake 2 out, no extra approaching last
tracked leaders, slow jump 1st, 4th after 5th, pushed along from 2 out and lost position, soon one pace
waited with towards rear, closed up on inner 2 out to track leaders travelling smoothly, pushed along approaching last where 2nd and mistake, kept on same pace run-in
DALTON HIGHWAY ended last year with a victory over a big field at Leopardstown and didn't reappear until landing a 2m handicap at the Curragh in June. He looks to be racing off a winnable mark and gets the vote in a tight-looking handicap. Damalisque, a winner at Auteuil back in 2017, hasn't had much racing subsequently but arrives in good form having been narrowly beaten in a strong Naas handicap. Debuchet changed stables and failed by only a short-head to give new handler Gavin Cromwell an opening victory over the track and trip earlier this month. R'Evelyn Pleasure gave notice of an imminent victory with a big run at Thurles and Duly Obliged here three weeks ago while Best Behavior is back on a 12lb lower mark than over fences.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Waited with, soon rear of mid-division, a little slow 15th, headway and slightly impeded 6 out, no impression in 5th and slight mistake 2 out, one pace, 5th of 17, 22 3/4l behind Neverushacon (11-11) at Punchestown 3m hvy in Nov.
Debuchet (FR) 9-2fav (11-6) Pushed along briefly early and after 1st, towards rear, pushed along at stages after, under pressure and headway to chase leaders approaching straight, soon closed on inner, stayed on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 13, shd behind Gabbys Cross (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Wingin A Prayer (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden in 6th before 2 out, no extra in 5th when mistake at last, kept on one pace, 5th of 17, 16l behind King Alex (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m 3f sft in Nov.
Best Behavior (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Mid-division, fell 1st, at Navan 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Andratx (IRE) 17-2 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden in 2nd 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, headed 1f out, disputed lead again inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Stellify (9-2) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp hvy in Nov.
Conquredalofeurope (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Close up and disputed lead early, prominent, slight mistake 3rd, 4th after 5th, lost position approaching 4 out, soon pushed along towards rear and no impression, 12th of 13, 36 1/4l behind Gabbys Cross (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Dalton Highway (IRE) 28-1 (9-0) Towards rear, pushed along 4f out, some headway over 2f out, not trouble leaders, 18th of 34, 22 1/2l behind Great White Shark (8-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Crosshue Boy (IRE) (12-2) Chsd ldrs on inner, 4th 1/2way, 2nd 3out, sn wknd, pu next, at Stradbally 3m sft in Dec.
Oscar Sam (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, soon towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden and no extra 5 out, behind when mistake last, virtually pulled up run-in, completely tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Epson Du Houx (12-0) at Clonmel 2m hvy in Dec.
Hurricane Darwin (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division early, 10th approaching halfway, closed up to be prominent approaching 3 out, no extra and one pace straight, 9th of 18, 25 3/4l behind Unexpected Depth (12-3) at Punchestown 3m hcp hvy in Dec.
Campeador (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Waited with, 11th after 2nd, headway straight, soon one pace, 9th of 13, 16 3/4l behind Advanced Virgo (10-2) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Damalisque (FR) 5-2fav (10-2) Chased leaders, soon moderate 3rd, slight mistake 7th, closed 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon on terms, narrowly headed and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Barnaviddaun (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Halsafari (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, under pressure 2 out, stayed on into 5th last where jumped right and slight mistake, kept on same pace run-in, 5th of 10, 9l behind Sizing Pottsie (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
R'evelyn Pleasure (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead 4 out, ridden to lead entering straight, strongly pressed and joined at last, led early flat, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec beating Sargent Lightfoot (10-6) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
