mid-division, slight mistake 6th, towards rear 5 out, no extra 3 out
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, closer in 3rd before 2 out, ridden last, stayed on to dispute entering straight, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
chased leader and close up at times, disputed 3 out, ridden last, under pressure in 3rd entering straight, no extra final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th last, under pressure in 6th entering straight, kept on inside final furlong
led and disputed, ridden to narrow lead after last, joined entering straight, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
held up, progress into 5th after 3 out, ridden in 4th last, stayed on to challenge early straight, narrow lead inside final furlong, headed last 50 yards and held
held up, bad mistake 4th and soon rear, pulled up after next
mid-division early, towards rear and slight mistake 7th, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened and completely tailed off
pushed along early, soon mid-division, closer in 5th 4 out, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened and tailed off
held up, slight mistake 2nd, ridden in 6th before 2 out, closer in 5th entering straight, challenged in centre inside final furlong, led last 50 yards
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
All The Answers has won three times around here including this a year ago when trained by Joseph O'Brien though Mark Walsh has chosen Thecraicisninety from the four J P McManus entries. His mount is by no means a prolific winner and is on his highest ever mark after a close second at Kilbeggan a month ago, his first start since October. Jan Maat won a Grade 3 novices' chase at Punchestown in October and his two runs this year have been at a higher level than this. Smithscorner has been running well since landing a Wexford handicap last summer though that was over 2m4f. QUAMINO warmed up for this with a comfortable victory over hurdles at Roscommon where he looked back to his best. He's reasonably handicapped over fences on his best form so gets the vote in a competitive heat.
Avenir D'Une Vie (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division best, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next, at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
All The Answers 11-1 (10-8) Waited with towards rear, 16th after 3rd, 13th from 10th, slight mistake 6 out, some headway and one pace from before 2 out, 8th of 18, 18 3/4l behind Poker Party (10-5) at Listowel 3m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Jan Maat (GER) 9-4fav (10-13) Chased leaders early, settled behind leaders after 3rd, slight mistake 4th, moderate 5th halfway, ridden and no impression after 4 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 34 1/2l behind Everlastingpromise (10-1) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Quamino (GER) 2-1 (12-0) Prominent, on terms from 4th, led from next, went on approaching 9th, reduced lead from 4 out, still travelling smoothly straight, went on again before 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, won at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp gd in Jun beating Mutadaffeq (12-0) by 4l, 12 ran.
Thecraicisninety 14-1 (11-10) Led, pressed approaching straight, headed and bumped with rival run-in, one pace, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Rock Road (9-12) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
Powersbomb (IRE) 18-1 (10-1) Prominent, led until headed halfway, close 4th 2f out, pushed along to go 2nd again entering straight, no extra in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Sicario (9-3) at Sligo 1m 5f hcp gd in Jul.
Paris Texas (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, dropped to 10th after 5th, progress to moderate 6th before 2 out, ridden and kept on to moderate 4th close home, never nearer, 4th of 12, 14 1/2l behind Mount Pelier (11-3) at Galway 2m 2f sft in Oct.
Nearly Nama'd (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistakes 3rd and 4th, soon lost place, towards rear halfway, progress into 3rd before 2 out, ridden in 5th last, soon no impression, 6th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Portmore Lough (10-8) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Peacocks Secret (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Pushed along briefly early, soon prominent, on terms 4th, soon led and raced towards outer, pushed along approaching straight, soon joined, headed before 2 out, no extra and one pace approaching last, 5th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Mind's Eye (11-12) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Smithscorner (IRE) 22-1 (9-12) Held up early, soon mid-division, moderate 6th halfway, ridden to progress 3 out, 3rd 2 out, 2nd and no impression on winner before last where slight mistake, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Everlastingpromise (10-1) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Carrig Cathal 50-1 (10-8) Waited with, improved to track leaders approaching 4 out, one pace straight and no impression chasing leaders when fell last, at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Duca De Thaix (FR) 50-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway from 3 out, 4th when left 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra in 6th when mistake at last, 6th of 15, 15l behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Rewritetherules (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Held up, slight mistake 3rd, 5th halfway, ridden entering straight, no impression in 4th from 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 6 1/2l behind Barrington Court (11-5) at Tipperary 2m 4f Yielding in Jul.
