chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra 2 out, kept on one pace
soon settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, improved to press leader before straight, ridden before 2 out, no extra in 4th last, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, progress entering straight, ridden in 7th 2 out, no impression in 5th last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, mistake 4th, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, no extra 2 out
held up, mistake 2nd, towards rear halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, no extra before 2 out where mistake, pulled up before last
led, 5-lengths clear before 3rd, mistake 5th and reduced advantage, joined next, led again before 5 out, 5-length advantage before 4 out, slow 4 out and joined, ridden and headed before straight, soon no extra and weakened, pulled up before last
always towards rear, mistake 7th, ridden and no extra 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
chased leader in 2nd, disputed from 6th, 2nd again before 5 out, disputed again 4 out, led before straight, ridden and pressed 2 out, kept on well from last
held up in mid-division, progress into 4th entering straight, ridden after 2 out, no impression in 3rd last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to press leader 2 out, soon ridden, under pressure in 2nd last, kept on same pace run-in
GENTLEMAN DUKE has been threatening a return to winning ways with a string of placed efforts and is preferred to Shanpallas, though the latter wasn’t beaten far at Gowran recently and is not out of this either. Neddyvaughan has been raised 8lb for winning at Fairyhouse while Peculiar Genius won a novice chase at Tramore on New Year’s Day but hasn’t raced since January. Ask Nile was placed over hurdles a fortnight ago but has to race off a 9lb higher mark back over the larger obstacles.
Ask Nile (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leader, headway to 2nd at 4th, 4th after 8th, progress to 3rd before 9th, improved to 2nd 3 out, travelled well to lead approaching straight, almost joined 2 out, dropped to 3rd before last, one paced, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind The Gatechecker (10-13) at Limerick 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Killiney Court (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Not fluent 1st, soon improved to chase leader in 2nd, further progress to lead from 5th, not fluent 5 out, ridden and headed after last, no extra and weakened run-in, 7th of 17, 19 3/4l behind Penny Jane (10-9) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Shanpallas (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Towards rear, closer approaching straight, pushed along and some headway in 4th 2 out, soon ridden and kept on one pace, no impression closing stages, 4th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Cecil Corbett (11-2) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
Gentleman Duke (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent at times, 6th from halfway, ridden in 4th from last and soon improved to challenge on outer, led briefly inside final 150 yards, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Penny Jane (10-9) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Adimelo (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd at 4th, slight mistake 6th, pushed along and in 3rd 3 out, ridden in 3rd next, kept on one pace straight, 3rd of 5, 9 1/2l behind Justmemyselfandi (11-6) at Sligo 3m gd in Sep.
Presenting Mahler (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed and dropped to 2nd from 5th, jumped left and not fluent next, again jumped left 5 out and lost place, soon weakened to rear and no extra, 12th of 17, dist behind Penny Jane (10-9) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Mr Picotee (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Soon raced in 4th and off pace, dropped to last at 8th, soon no impression, left 4th again from 2 out, 4th of 5, 28 3/4l behind Kildorrery (11-12) at Punchestown 2m gd in Oct.
Neddyvaughan (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd after 5th, close up and travelling smoothly from 4 out, on terms 2 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on well run-in to quickly assert, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp gd in Oct beating Coolmill (11-7) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Conduct Yourself (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) In rear, some progress into 8th 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 7th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Dont Kick Nor Bite (11-8) at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp gd in Oct.
Peculiar Genius (IRE) 7-1cfav (11-8) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, 9th approaching straight and no extra from 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 17, dist behind Wings Like Arion (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hvy in Jan.
