led to 10th with leader, mistake 4 out, 5th and weakening when pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
held up, mistake 11th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, 3rd and no impression when left 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
held up and behind, lost touch after 9th, tailed off
chased leaders, jumped slowly 4th and 5th, jumped slowly 12th and outpaced, rallied after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, in command when left clear 2 out, ran on
mid-division, mistake 4 out, struggling 3 out
took keen hold and prominent, ridden from 3 out, weakend but left 3rd 2 out, pulled up lame before last
chased leader led 10th, clear 3 out, ridden, headed approaching 2 out, 4 lengths down, beaten when fell 2 out
in rear, remote 7th approaching 2 out, left 3rd by several departures last
mid-division, headway after 4, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, losing place when pecked 9th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Burren Moonshine, Arm And A Leg and County Final are the three to consider here with Arm And A Leg getting the nod. Arm And a Leg is a consistent handicap hurdler with two wins to his credit last season and he ran a blinder on his chasing bow last time, to rally after being headed and only go down by a short head. Although that was on fast ground, his better efforts have generally been with some cut so any rain would be in his favour. County Final has a maiden hurdle success at Wexford as his only success to date and he would seem to be one of Jonjo O'Neill and JP McManus's lesser lights. He takes a slight drop in grade but his fencing performances have been moderate and he is taken on. With wins at Petth and Stratford in handicap hurdles to his credit, Burren Moonshine clearly has talent. However he has yet to translate it to fences, although he has been placed twice, he has seemed a little one paced at the business end. He may have benfitted from the experience but Arm And A Leg gets the vote.
Arm And A Leg (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Led, jumped right 8th, joined 11th, headed soon after, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on approaching last, hung left flat, just denied, 2nd of 7, shd behind Midnight Gold (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jul.
County Final (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Towards rear, slow 2nd, moderate 9th after 3 out, soon no extra, virtually pulled up from last, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Nonchalant (11-12) at Galway 2m 6f beg chs gf in Aug.
Reflex Blue 33-1 (10-2) Always behind, 7th of 16, 32l behind Terramarique (11-2) at Worcester 3m amt hcp hdl (5) gf in Aug.
Sandy Gold (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Led to before 5th, chased winner, lost place 5 out, soon behind, 7th of 8, 35l behind Topinambour (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gf in Aug.
Young Will 4-6fav (12-0) Mid-div; chsd ldrs 3 out; no ex nxt, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Pimlico (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gf in May.
Burren Moonshine (IRE) 13-8fav (10-4) Tracked leader, hit 13th, led next, headed after 4 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Kivotos (11-6) at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Aug.
Top Gale (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Fibre Optics (11-7) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Aug, 14 ran.
Banbrook Hill (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Pass Me By (11-2) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) sft in Apr, 9 ran.
