led briefly, not fluent 1st and headed, chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened 3 out
chased leaders and keen hold early, led 4th, headed after 4 out, no extra before 2 out, weakened
held up in mid-division, ridden and no extra 3 out
held up towards rear, some progress 2 out, ridden and no impression entering straight
prominent 1st, chased leaders, 6th halfway, 4th and mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders, moderate 3rd before last, kept on one pace
held up in mid-division, ridden and no extra before 2 out
chased leaders, led after 1st, headed 4th, 3rd halfway, ridden 2 out, no impression entering straight, no extra before last where slight mistake
always towards rear, no extra before 3 out, weakened
towards rear for most, never a factor
settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, 6th and slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 5th next, under pressure in 4th entering straight, kept on one pace
prominent 1st, soon chased leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 3 out, led after 4 out, ridden and pressed before last, kept on well run-in, pressed close home
chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 4th halfway, 2nd 3 out, ridden entering straight, switched to inner and challenged before last, slight mistake last, under pressure in 2nd run-in, kept on well close home to press winner
mid-division best, slight mistake 4th, ridden and no impression before 2 out
mid-division, ridden before 2 out where bumped, soon no extra
settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, slow 5th, ridden before 2 out where jumped right and bumped rival, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
mid-division best, ridden and no extra before 2 out
rear of mid-division for most, ridden and no extra before 2 out
chased leaders briefly, soon mid-division, ridden and no impression before 2 out, moderate 6th entering straight, kept on one pace
Vauban completed a soft-ground double when landing a Listed contest at Vichy in July and has a stamina-packed pedigree ideal for hurdling. PIED PIPER easily won a heavy-ground handicap over 1m2f at Leicester for the Gosden yard in October and connections went to 225,000gns to acquire him. He can start repaying the investment here though dual Flat winner Max Mayhem found Grade 3 company too taxing on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse and should be more at home here. Curragh maiden winner Wild Dollar is one to note along with Chacha Dancer, a very good third at Limerick on Sunday.
Astrophysicist 20-1 (11-2) Led, joined after 4 out, headed before next, ridden in 2nd entering straight, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, no extra before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 11 1/2l behind Britzka (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Bears Hug (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Led or disputed lead, ridden 2f out, under pressure and headed over 100 yards out, no extra, 4th of 12, 2l behind Annexation (9-1) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.
Charlie's Yard 200-1 (11-2) Waited with, soon towards rear, slight mistake 4 out, soon no impression, 14th of 15, dist behind Doctor Churchill (11-2) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Great Realisation (IRE) 18-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and lost place under 2f out, no extra over 1f out, eased, 18th of 20, 11 1/2l behind Tudor City (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
Hillsin (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Waited with, soon towards rear, 11th after 3rd, soon some headway, no extra approaching straight, 12th of 15, dist behind Doctor Churchill (11-2) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Hms Seahorse (IRE) 5-6fav (9-7) Led and disputed, ridden in narrow lead 2f out, joined over 1f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, just denied at line, 2nd of 11, shd behind Castletownbere (9-7) at Cork 1m 2f mdn gf in May.
Init Together 50-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, reminder 6th, ridden and slightly hampered 2 out, weakened, 12th of 20, 35 1/2l behind Ben Siegel (11-2) at Punchestown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Nov.
Just For Yuse (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Sudona (9-11) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Sep.
Just Jacob (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, ridden and no extra before 3 out, 10th of 14, dist behind Britzka (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Kojin (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and no impression in 8th 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 18, 27 3/4l behind Iberique Du Seuil (11-2) at Cork 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Max Mayhem 11-2 (10-11) Chased leader, mistake at 3rd, dropped to 5th before 5th, under pressure and weakened quickly after 2 out, not fluent last, 7th of 8, 26l behind Fil Dor (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Pied Piper 7-1 (9-3) Kept bit wide, tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd going well 3f out, led inside final 2f, clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Leicester 1m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Oct beating Irish Legend (9-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Sevenal 100-1 (10-11) Rear, 8th before 5th, 7th 2 out where not fluent, soon ridden, no impression before last, modest late headway, never a factor, 6th of 8, 24 1/4l behind Fil Dor (10-11) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Vauban (FR) (9-1) won at Vichy 1m 4f lst stks sft in Jul beating Friendly Face (9-1) by shd, 7 ran.
Wild Dollar (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Soon raced 3rd, 4th halfway, progress and ridden 1f out, not much room final 150 yards, soon switched left and ran on to 3rd close home, never nearer, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Hell Bent (9-12) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jul.
Chacha Dancer (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Waited with towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching straight, kept on same pace without threatening from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 8 1/2l behind Doctor Churchill (11-2) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Magic Word (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along entering straight, soon ridden, under pressure and no extra 1f out, 10th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Turf Range (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Saywhatyouwant (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 5th before last, stayed on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 14, 9 3/4l behind Britzka (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Tullypole Annie (IRE) 250-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division on outer, no impression from 3 out, some modest late progress, 10th of 20, 29 1/2l behind Ben Siegel (11-2) at Punchestown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Nov.
Brunello (FR) 80-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along early straight and soon no impression, moderate 5th under 2f out, no extra, 5th of 6, 17 3/4l behind Sir Lucan (9-5) at Navan 1m 5f lst stks (1) gd in May.
Seen It In Colour (IRE) 300-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 7th halfway, dropped towards rear 4 out, pushed along and detached after next, no extra, tailed off, 12th of 18, dist behind Icare Allen (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Ellie Tom (IRE) 250-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, slow 2nd, ridden and no extra after 4 out, 12th of 18, dist behind Iberique Du Seuil (11-2) at Cork 2m mdn sft in Dec.
I Doubt That (IRE) 250-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, 9th of 12, 22 1/4l behind Metaphorical (9-7) at Listowel 1m mdn Good - Yielding in Jun.
