held up, slight mistake 1st, moderate 4th halfway, closer 3 out, soon ridden in 6th and no extra, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, soon held up, slight mistakes 5th and 7th, moderate 5th halfway, closer 3 out, challenged entering straight, disputed briefly 2 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace
held up, reminder 5th, closer in 4th 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, kept on one pace, slight mistake last
tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute after 3 out, narrow lead entering straight, joined briefly 2 out, soon led again, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in, easily
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, improved to lead 3 out, soon joined, ridden and headed entering straight, disputed briefly 2 out, soon under pressure in 3rd, kept on one pace
led, clear early, reduced advantage from 5th, bad mistake 3 out and headed, soon ridden and no extra, weakened
always towards rear, rear and ridden after 5 out, weakened and pulled up before next
Owner/trainer Barry Connell has some nice horses in his yard for this winter and BALKITO (NAP) is certainly one of them. He improved to complete a double over fences in the spring and reverts to hurdles on a 19lb lower mark with his promising rider claiming 7lb. I Sea The Moon also returns after a long lay-off having been beaten a neck on heavy going at Clonmel just under a year ago. Rebellious Gale landed a 2m6f Limerick handicap in May and ran well enough at the Galway festival to get into contention but winning bumper Coole Og has so far failed to fire in maiden hurdles. Saint Bernadette has shown potential in maidens and makes her handicap debut on a lenient mark so could provide the main threat.
Simply Shabra (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in 5th 3 out, stayed on into 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 9l behind Hi Ho Phoenix (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f mdn Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Mont Saint Vincent (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Held up, pushed along and lost ground 3 out, no headway and beaten 2 out, 9th of 13, 31 1/2l behind Blairgowrie (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Coole Og (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, slow 1st, 2nd halfway, 3rd 3 out, pushed along and no extra after next, weakened, 8th of 11, 27 1/4l behind Paidi's Passion (10-13) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f mdn gd in Aug.
Good World (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Chased leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along in 6th from last, ridden in 5th over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 16, 11 1/4l behind Lily Light Foot (11-3) at Kilbeggan 3m hcp gd in Jul.
Saint Bernadette (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 4th 5 out, 3rd and pushed along approaching straight, ridden and kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Run For Pat (11-12) at Listowel 3m mdn gd in Sep.
Robindale (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Prominent early, soon held up in rear of mid-division, 8th before 9th, effort after 2 out, no impression before last, 5th of 12, 22 1/2l behind Killoughteen (10-13) at Wexford 3m mdn Yielding in Sep.
Ard Monarch (IRE) 250-1 (11-5) Mid-division, moderate 7th after 3rd, dropped to 9th after 3 out, no impression in moderate 9th 2 out where jumped right, weakened, 8th of 15, dist behind No Risk No Fun (11-12) at Listowel 2m mdn gd in Sep.
Balkito (FR) 7-2cfav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, disputed lead 5 out, led next, pushed along and pressed before last, ridden and edged left run-in, kept on well, asserted close home, won at Limerick 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Sir Bob (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Rebellious Gale (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Rear, 12th after 8th, progress before 2 out, not fluent in 7th last, ridden and kept on run-in to 5th closing stages, never nearer, 5th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Nathaniel's Dream (10-0) at Galway 3m hcp sft in Jul.
Old Soul (FR) 9-2jfav (10-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, pushed along before 2 out, challenged 2 out and soon led briefly, ridden and headed before last, no impression, kept on one pace, 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Prince Zaltar (10-9) at Tramore 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Qatar Spirit (FR) 66-1 (11-12) Disputed lead and clear of remainder, headed 4th, weakened from 3 out, soon behind, 11th of 14, dist behind Country Queen (11-5) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f mdn gd in Sep.
I Sea The Moon (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, pushed along and on terms before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no impression early run-in, stayed on well to press winner final 50 yards, just failed, 2nd of 15, nk behind Lucky Max (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f hcp hvy in Oct.
