always rear, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace
held up in 4th, slight mistake 4 out, closer next, improved into 2nd 2 out, ridden to dispute before last, no extra run-in, kept on one pace
chased leader early, 3rd from 4th, slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to challenge last, led run-in, kept on well closing stages
led, slight mistake 3 out, ridden and joined before last, headed run-in, kept on same pace
settled behind leaders early, chased leaders from 2nd, 2nd from 4th, pressed leader 3 out, ridden and mistake 2 out, under pressure in 4th entering straight, kept on one pace
CIEL DE NEIGE (NAP) has spent 2021 in classy, ultra-competitive handicap hurdles. Indeed, the smallest field he's contested is 18, so it's understandable to see him pointed at a more straightforward target. He sets a strong standard and should prove hard to beat. Ashqar, running acceptably in ordinary handicaps, would be massively better off with the selection in a handicap, whilst I A Connect has won both starts this term but only scraped home last time in a maiden hurdle, The lightly-raced Authorized Art has a first run since 2019 and is hard to assess, but is a stablemate of the selection and therefore the market may prove a useful guide to his chance.
Ashqar (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, disputed 3 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression in 3rd 2 out, no extra run-in, 6th of 12, 9 1/2l behind Excelcius (12-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Authorized Art (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, ridden after next, close 3rd on inner at last, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Anything Will Do (11-1) at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and no extra before 2 out, 12th of 18, 22 1/4l behind Dysart Diamond (10-11) at Listowel 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
I A Connect (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Prominent and disputed lead, led narrowly 2 out where not fluent, pushed along approaching last, strongly pressed run-in and joined closing stages, led on line, won at Listowel 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Sep beating Chicago Time (11-12) by shd, 14 ran.
Two Shoe Tom (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, headway int 7th 3 out, ridden entering straight, no impression, 5th of 16, 21 1/4l behind Uisce Solas (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hvy in Jan.
