chased leaders, slight mistakes 6th and 7th, ridden before straight in a dispute of 5th, progress to have every chance run-in, one pace closing stages
prominent, led after 3rd, slight mistake 7th, bad mistake 2 out and headed and lost place, disputed 5th before straight, close up again last, kept on to gain narrow lead closing stages, headed near line
soon led, headed after 3rd, slightly slow in 3rd 3 out, pushed along and on terms before straight, headed from early run-in, kept on without matching principals
held up, soon towards rear, improved 7th, tracked leaders in 4th approaching straight, switched right approaching last, stayed on well run-in to lead near line
held up, towards rear and inclined to jump right, slight mistake 6th, pushed along 8th, not fluent 2 out, 9th approaching straight, no extra and jumped right again last
took keen hold, soon chased leaders, left in lead 2 out, soon joined, headed run-in and no extra closing stages
chased leaders, improved to get on terms approaching straight, headed before last where not fluent, soon no impression and no extra closing stages
prominent, not fluent 5th, pushed along 7th, dropped to 7th approaching straight, soon switched right, kept on run-in
held up, soon towards rear, 8th approaching straight, ridden and progress to lead run-in, headed closing stages and one pace in 3rd
tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, some slightly slow jumps, last approaching straight, soon no extra, tailed off
tracked leaders, not always fluent jumping, lost place and under pressure 8th, no extra in last 3 out where slow jump, pulled up before 2 out
King's Wharf completed a hat-trick on good ground in the summer and has been competing over longer trips though he's now 20lb higher than his last winning mark. Powersbomb won a handicap at Clonmel and would have completed a double but for a last-fence fall here last month. That was only his third start over fences and he should make a bold bid for compensation. Elusive Ivy gave supporters of the odds-on Slowmotion a real fright in a beginners' event at Naas and makes her handicap debut from what could be a very fair mark so she's on the shortlist along with Samanntom, an all the way winner over this trip at Tipperary before fading from the last over 2m5f at Tramore. The lightly-raced Fair Return has a very long absence to overcome but DALLAS COWBOY was unlucky in-running here last month where he was travelling well throughout but was impeded at a crucial stage so he gets the nod.
King's Wharf (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Mid-division on inner, 6th 4 out, pushed along in 5th and left 4th 2 out, no impression on winner in 3rd when fell last, at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Powersbomb (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Soon led, joined from 5th, soon headed, led again from 2 out, attempted to assert before last and went on when fell, at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Ronava (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Rear of mid-division, 9th after 3rd, 8th after 4 out, no extra in 7th 2 out, 7th of 12, 32l behind Knockraha Pylon (10-10) at Cork 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Elusive Ivy (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Close up, chased leader from 2nd, slight mistake 4 out, led before 2 out, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Slowmotion (11-1) at Naas 2m sft in Jan.
Fair Return 12-1 (11-3) Towards rear, slight mistake 8th, 7th entering straight, pushed along and no extra in 6th after 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 8, 30 1/2l behind Killer Crow (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Mister Hotelier (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Led, soon joined, headed from 2nd where pecked slightly, soon chased clear leader, weakened approaching straight, pulled up before last, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Deano (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up, 13th from 6th, went 8th before straight, one pace, 8th of 14, dist behind Smadynium (11-10) at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Samanntom (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Chased leader, closed from before 7th, on terms before 8th, led from 4 out and went on, pushed along approaching 2 out, soon strongly pressed, headed between last 2, soon no impression, slight mistake last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 14l behind Returntovendor (10-10) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Dallas Cowboy (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, progress before 2 out, pushed along and short of room early straight, 5th at last, ridden and kept on run-in, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Courtncatcher (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Follow The Sign (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Led, under pressure and bad mistake 3 out and headed 3 out, soon weakened quickly, 9th of 10, dist behind Duke Cass (10-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Pulled Mussel (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Held up, raced in 7th early, progress to chase winner between last 2, kept on without getting there run-in, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Black Zero (9-11) at Naas 2m hcp sft in Jan.
