chased leaders early, 7th and mid-division halfway, slight mistakes 7 out and 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, led before 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in close 6th 2 out, 3rd and no impression before last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, dropped to 6th 4 out, ridden in 8th when mistake 3 out, no extra and weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway in 6th 5 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace
always towards rear, tailed off
chased leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 4 out, improved to narrow lead 2 out, ridden and narrowly headed last, kept on run-in, no extra close home
led, headed before 5 out, ridden in close 3rd 2 out, soon no extra
mid-division, 8th halfway, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway in 4th entering straight, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, narrow lead last, kept on under pressure run-in
held up towards rear, headway in 6th 3 out, ridden in close 4th 2 out, no extra before last, kept on same pace
Hegrid finished third in a moderate event at Tramore on Friday and will need to step up on that to make his presence felt here. Lurgan is on a high enough mark and may just need the run and though Dr Whizz has shown promise he hasn't been done any favours on his handicap debut. BIDEFORD LEGEND has been alternating between hurdles and fences and there was plenty to like about his latest run over three miles at Limerick when runner-up to For A Finish over the bigger obstacles. He looks fairly treated and can take this, though Darling Harbour looked well suited to front-running at Down Royal last time under David Casey who will no doubt attempt to grind his rivals into the ground again.
Inistioge (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Prominent, led before 6 out where mistake, dropped to moderate 4th and no extra from after 3 out, 4th of 10, 31l behind Blazing Tempo (10-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Nov.
Lurgan (IRE) 12-1 (9-13) Mid-division, 10th halfway, headway into 5th 5 out, no extra in 6th from 2 out, 6th of 23, 26l behind Coolcashin (10-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 gd in Apr.
Dr Whizz (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, moderate 4th 3 out, went moderate 3rd after 2 out, kept on one paced, 3rd of 15, 20l behind Torphichen (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f beg chs in Dec.
Barcardero (USA) 20-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, driven along in 5th approaching 3 out, soon no extra, 8th of 17, 30l behind Jack The Bus (9-12) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 in Nov.
Bideford Legend (IRE) 15-8fav (10-10) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, 5th 5 out, progress after next, ridden to lead entering straight, headed 2 out, no impression from last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind For A Finish (10-12) at Limerick 3m hcp chs 0-130 sft in Nov.
The Bosses Nephew (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Rear of mid-division, headway into 9th 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, weakened, 13th of 15, well behind Got Attitude (10-10) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Oct.
Ten Fires (GER) 13-2 (10-7) In touch, 6th halfway, 4th after 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure, 3rd of 20, 10l behind Saddlers Storm (10-9) at Navan 3m nov chs in Mar.
Darling Harbour (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, led 3rd, ridden and kept on well from 2 out, won at Down Royal 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Nov beating Imperial Storm (9-10) by 3l, 14 ran.
Ar Aghaidh Leat (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, weakened from 4 out, behind when mistake 3 out and pulled up, in a race won by Curragh Grey (10-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 in Dec, 16 ran.
Imaalhall (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Close 2nd to halfway, 4th when slight mistake 8th, ridden 3 out, no extra from next, 8th of 13, 23l behind Carrigmartin (11-12) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-109 sft in Nov.
Whosaidso (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, some headway into mid-division halfway, fell 6 out, in a race won by Beautiful Sound (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 in Nov, 18 ran.
The Burrow Vic (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Held up, mistake 8th, behind from 5 out, 16th of 28, well behind Majestic Concorde (11-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs 0-145 hvy in Dec.
Hegrid (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, chased leaders 9th, in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Kellystown Lad (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
