tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, slow 2nd and 3rd, 4th halfway, pushed along to go 2nd approaching 2 out and soon challenged, under pressure and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, jumped slow at 1st, 2nd and 4th, dropped to rear and pushed along before 5th, detached after 8th, behind and pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, progress on inner approaching straight and 3rd 2 out, challenged before last, under pressure and no impression run-in, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 7th 4 out, pushed along after next, no impression and slight mistake in 5th 2 out, no extra
towards rear, progress into 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression approaching straight, no extra in 6th 2 out, weakened
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra approaching straight, weakened, behind and pulled up before last
towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along and some progress in 4th approaching 2 out, no impression before last, no extra
made all, pushed along and slight mistake 2 out, soon strongly pressed, kept on well under pressure run-in
Arthur Moore won the first running a year ago and recent Downpatrick winner Mitebeall Forluck is in good enough form to get into the picture. Curragh Golan won here in July but is 12lb higher having scored again at Listowel. Goulane Chosen has been placed in eight out of twelve starts over fences but has yet to win and though both The Mooch and Abolitionist are capable of winning at this level the guaranteed fitness of KING'S WHARF may prove too much for them. Willie Mullins' charge rattled up a hat-trick in mid-summer and two of his last three defeats have come over hurdles.
Abolitionist (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Held up in touch, tracked laders 12th, went 2nd next, lost place 2 out, outpaced after last, soon ridden, rallied inside final furlong, challenged near finish, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Dreamsoftheatre (10-9) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Apache Jack (IRE) 20-1 (12-1) Mid-division, 7th halfway, not fluent 7th, dropped to rear and slightly hampered 2 out, no extra, 7th of 10, 31 1/4l behind Master Appeal (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
King's Wharf (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Soon raced in 2nd, pushed along into straight, gained narrow lead after 2 out, joined last, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Killiney Court (11-7) at Tipperary 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Goulane Chosen (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, left 4th at 7th, slight mistake 3 out, improved to challenge and slight mistake 2 out, ridden in 3rd before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 11, 5 1/4l behind Alpha Des Obeaux (11-12) at Thurles 2m 6f gd in Oct.
Mitebeall Forluck 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along 2 out, no impression in 6th over 1f out, under pressure and kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 5l behind Eiri Na Casca (10-4) at Galway 2m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
The Mooch (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Led, ridden from 2 out, strongly pressed at last, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 11, 5 1/2l behind Federici (11-0) at Downpatrick 3m 4f hcp gd in Mar.
Curragh Golan (IRE) 4-1fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, 5th from 9th, closed and impeded 3 out, almost on terms next, no extra and kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind As De Pique (11-0) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Definite Soldier (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Mid-division, progress into 2nd before 7th, 3rd 4 out, ridden before 2 out and no impression in 4th approaching last, no extra, 6th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Tiger Sam (10-8) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp gd in Oct.
Captain Von Trappe (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake last, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 10 1/4l behind Monksland (11-12) at Galway 2m 7f gd in Oct.
