AS YOU WERE (NAP) carries a penalty for his bumper victory but looked a certain future winner when making the long odds-on Blow By Blow pull out all the stops over this trip at Navan with the remainder in another parish and will be very difficult to beat here. The winner's yard is represented by winning bumper Double Portrait, who looked badly in need of experience on his hurdling bow at Limerick. Nick Lost has been attempting to make all in testing conditions and may be held up this time while Cherokee Bill made a promising hurdling debut here before a poor run at Leopardstown. The latter's yard is also represented by Heroesandvillains, a winning point-to-pointer who is the type to do better.
As You Were (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Prominent, on terms briefly 8th, disputed lead again before straight, soon led, pushed along from 2 out, slight mistake last, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Blow By Blow (11-12) at Navan 2m 7f mdn hvy in Dec.
Double Portrait (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leader, 3rd at 7th, progress to 2nd before 8th, niggled along in 3rd after 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hvy in Dec.
Cherokee Bill 14-1 (11-12) Soon mid-division, not fluent 7th and no extra, weakened from before last, 7th of 10, dist behind Dicey O'reilly (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.
Fruits Of Gold (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division, improved into 4th halfway, ridden and no extra after 4 out, 10th of 16, dist behind Close Shave (11-12) at Thurles 2m 6f Yielding in Oct.
Kingsteel (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, slight mistake 5th, 3rd halfway, mistake 5 out, ridden and lost place briefly 3 out, no impression in 4th before 2 out where slight mistake, kept on one pace, moderate 3rd from last, 3rd of 7, 21 3/4l behind Deal D'estruval (11-1) at Tramore 2m 5f mdn hvy in Jan.
Nick Lost (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Led, headed 1st and chased leader, left in lead 3 out, soon ridden and headed before next, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, soon no extra, 5th of 12, 27l behind Minellafordollars (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hvy in Dec.
The Conditional (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Ld/disp, ld aftr 3out & 1 1/2l adv gng best bef last, ko to go clr flat, won at Boulta 3m mdn hvy in Nov beating Walk Waterford (12-2) by 8l, 8 ran.
Ask And Answer (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Chsd ldrs, cl en 5th 6out, 3rd aftr 3out & ko bef 2out, 2nd aftr 2out until 4l 2nd & no ex bef last, kow, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Good And Hardy (11-11) at Templenacarriga 3m mdn hvy in Dec.
Heroesandvillains 33-1 (11-7) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.
Reach Up 33-1 (11-4) Raced in 3rd, 4th halfway, dropped to last over 3f out, soon no extra, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Minella Encore (12-0) at Leopardstown 2m sft in Dec.
