towards rear, progress 5 out, 9th approaching next, no impression from before straight
tracked leaders, challenged and on terms and clear of remainder before last, stayed on best run-in to get on top closing stages
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, reminders next, soon no danger, completely tailed off
waited with, 10th 5 out, headway to chase leaders 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
never better than mid-division
soon led, headed 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
chased leaders, slight mistake 3 out, 4th before straight, no impression from before last, soon moderate 3rd and kept on same pace
soon prominent, led 2 out, joined and clear of remainder from before last, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages
waited with, closer in 6th before straight, no impression and kept on from before last
soon mid-division, closed from before 3 out, 5th before straight, no extra after 2 out
prominent, lost place from before 3 out, soon no extra, tailed off
waited with, 9th 5 out, no impression from before straight
Troubled looked a decent prospect when placed twice last spring but his recent form has been very disappointing. Carsonstown Bridge made a promising reappearance behind Torn Asunder at Down Royal on Boxing Day and can improve as that was only his third start over hurdles. Some Drama and Itsy Bitsy Spider weren't far behind and both can make progress as can Classic Event, who has come up against some useful opponents without being disgraced. RAISE HELL looked as though a stiffer test would suit when runner-up to his odds-on stablemate Touch Of Eden over the minimum trip at Thurles. He should get that over this extra half-mile and looks the one to be on.
Arctic Trail (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Sizing Gold (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Carsonstown Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden early straight and went 5th before 2 out, moderate 4th last and kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Torn Asunder (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Dia Dhuit (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Pr with ldrs, wknd 5out, sn rr & pu 4out, in a race won by Ballyculla (12-0) at Loughanmore 3m ire ptp hvy in Nov, 17 ran.
Distant Sound (IRE) Luso gelding out of Distant Dreams.
Hallstown Lad (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along in 5th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by King Of Firth (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy, 16 ran.
Itsy Bitsy Spider (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Led racing keenly, headed before 3rd but remained prominent, disputed again 3 out, headed and dropped to 3rd before next, no extra, 5th of 10, 13l behind Torn Asunder (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Raise Hell (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, progress into 7th halfway, 5th after 4 out, 3rd 2 out, kept on without threatening winner, 2nd of 18, 8l behind Touch The Eden (11-12) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl in Nov.
Some Drama (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway to lead briefly approaching 2 out, soon headed and no impression in 3rd before last, no extra, 4th of 10, 9l behind Torn Asunder (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Walker Ridge (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 2nd 4 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight and no extra in 4th after 2 out, 4th of 14, well behind Captain Canada (11-4) at Thurles 2m 6f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Classic Event (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Waited with, closed to chase leaders 5 out, moderate 3rd into straight, no impression in 2nd and kept on same pace approaching last, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Wingtips (11-9) at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Killeen Elegance (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Always behind, last of 18, well behind Annie Power (11-4) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl in Nov.
Mrs Mac Veale (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Settled behind leaders in 5th, ridden and no extra 4f out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 43l behind Outlander (11-11) at Leopardstown 2m N H flat sft in Dec.
Troubled (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Captain Canada (11-4) at Thurles 2m 6f mdn hdl hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
