towards rear, not fluent jumping, behind from before 4th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, moderate 6th and no extra approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, moderate 3rd approaching straight where raced towards stands side, closed before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace
soon led, clear approaching straight where raced towards stands side and jumped left 2 out, asserted and stayed on well to draw from before last, comfortably
chased leaders, no extra approaching 3 out where mistake, tailed off
soon tracked leaders, ridden in pursuit of winner from 3 out, came towards stands side straight, no extra and kept on same pace from before last
waited with, no extra approaching 3 out and soon behind, completely tailed off
waited with, moderate 5th and no impression 3 out, kept on same pace
prominent, struggling to get to winner from 3 out, came towards stands side straight, closed 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
Djakadam started long odds-on for a moderate Thurles maiden last month when making his debut for Willie Mullins but was making heavy weather of it before unshipping Ruby Walsh at the last. He would have won but for that mishap and should have improved for the run but he'll be a short price again and IBSEN has the stronger form. He completed a hat-trick on the Flat last summer and has come up against two useful performers over hurdles at Leopardstown so looks the value against the likely favourite. Welsh Nayber was just behind the selection in both those races at Leopardstown so there's no reason why he shouldn't get into the mix while the former Aidan O'Brien-trained Mannheim and ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate Courage make this an interesting opener.
Ancelotti (IRE) 7-1 (8-2) Settled on inner, lost place and rear of mid-division approaching straight, no extra from 2f out, eased when beaten, 18th of 19, 27l behind Our Conor (9-3) at Naas 1m 3yo hcp 47-75 in Jun (flat).
Coolsami (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division on inner, no impression from 3 out, 10th of 13, well behind Fatcatinthehat (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Jan.
Courage (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) In touch, ridden over 2f out, headway to chase winner over 1f out, no impression, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Wannabe Loved (8-12) at Bath 1m 2f mdn stks (5) sft in Oct (flat).
Djakadam (FR) 3-10fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 2 out, ridden and pressed when mistake last, soon stumbled and unseated rider, in a race won by Kilmainham (11-4) at Thurles 2m mdn hdl in Jan, 18 ran.
House Limit (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden in 6th 3 out, weakened, 7th of 15, 46l behind Balnagon Boy (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy.
Ibsen (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, moderate 6th next, went moderate 3rd before last, kept on run-in to go 2nd at line, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Fatcatinthehat (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Jan.
Mannheim (IRE) 4-6fav (9-0) Always prominent, tracked leader in 2nd, led 2f out, soon strongly pressed, headed under pressure inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Astrology (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2yo mdn gd in Aug '11 (flat).
Vaxalco (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear early, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, 6th of 9, 32l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Navan 2m 3yo mdn hdl in Nov.
Welsh Nayber 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner entering straight, dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Fatcatinthehat (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Jan.
