towards rear, no impression from 4 out, some modest late progress but never a factor
tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead briefly 9th, headed next, 3rd and mistake 4 out, ridden to dispute lead briefly after 3 out, headed 2 out, 2nd and no impression on winner when not fluent at last and unseated rider
tracked leaders, 4th 5 out, close 4th 3 out, ridden in 3rd next, 3rd and left 2nd at last, kept on without threatening winner
mid-division, remote 6th 5 out, remote 5th and no impression when fell 3 out
mid-division, jumped right 4th, remote 6th 5 out, left remote 5th 3 out, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 5th and left remote 4th at last
led early, headed 2nd, weakened from 8th, behind straight
always prominent, close 2nd 5 out, improved to dispute lead and slight mistake 3 out, pushed along and led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in
prominent early, slow jump 1st and reminders, led 2nd, ridden and joined 3 out, soon headed, dropped to 4th 2 out, 4th and left 3rd at last, no impression
mid-division, mistake 1st, bad mistake 2nd and dropped to rear, mistake 3rd, last when pulled up after 5th
mid-division, remote 5th 5 out, no impression from next, never a factor
mid-division, mistake 1st, weakened from 4 out, never a factor
rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
always behind, slight mistake 1st, tailed off when fell at last
always behind, bad mistake 6th, never a factor
This could turn out to be an informative contest. Rathvinden's last run was in the 2014 Neptune Investment at Cheltenham was a close third behind Faugheen. The fact that he's been persevered with and has a Grade 1 entry later this month suggests he's held in high regard. Edwulf has had his jumping problems or he would have won more races. He made mistakes again behind Min here last month and needs to do better. Gwencily Berbas wasn't beaten far behind Arctic Fire in the Hatton's Grace a year ago and made a very encouraging debut over fences behind Three Stars at Punchestown and the winner runs earlier. PRINCE OF SCARS, who landed the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last year then finished third to Thistlecrack at Aintree, started odds-on for his chasing debut at Naas and though finding Road To Respect too good that will have put the edge on him and he can go one better.
Angus Milan (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Towards rear, no impression from 4 out, some modest late progress, 10th of 17, dist behind Min (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Edwulf 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 5th and dropped to 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, dropped to moderate 6th next, pushed along in moderate 3rd next, kept on one paced, 3rd of 17, 11 3/4l behind Min (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Gwencily Berbas (FR) 9-1 (11-1) Led, slight mistakes 5th and 8th, strongly pressed and headed 2 out, no impression on winner and mistake last, no extra run-in, 4th of 6, 5l behind Three Stars (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 2f (1) gd in Oct.
Larry Capri (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, moderate 6th from 6th, no extra from before 4 out, fell 2 out, at Gowran Park 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Lisclogher Lad (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistake 7th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 8th of 17, dist behind Road To Respect (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Master Ruffit (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inner, weakened from 4 out, never a factor, last of 17, dist behind Min (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Our Duke (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Soon chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, slight mistake next and pushed along briefly, 3rd approaching straight, slight mistake 2 out, no impression before last, kept on without threatening closing stages, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Yielding in Mar.
Prince Of Scars (IRE) 9-10fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 6th and reminder, 3rd and pushed along after 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 2nd at last, kept on under pressure run-in without reaching winner, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Road To Respect (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Rathvinden (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, lost place 4 out, headway next, chased leaders when not much room and switched left before last, ridden and stayed on to press for 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Red Giant (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Settled behind leaders in 4th, slight mistakes 5th and 4 out, ridden in 5th and no impression entering straight, mistake 3 out and no extra, left moderate 4th last, dropped to 5th run-in, 5th of 7, 31 1/4l behind Blood Crazed Tiger (11-4) at Cork 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Russian Bill (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always behind, slight mistake 1st and pushed along next, never a factor, 14th of 17, dist behind Min (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Steamboat Bill (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear for most, slight mistake 6th, ridden and no impression 5 out, weakened, 8th of 14, dist behind Haymount (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f sft in Nov.
The Bantown Lane 4-1 (12-1) Rcd 4th/5th, slt prog 6out, 3rd 4out, 4th 2out, not mtch ldrs from early str, ko onepce run-in, 3rd of 6, 11 3/4l behind Burton Hall (12-1) at Kirkistown 3m mdn gs in Nov.
Court Adjourned (IRE) 80-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, no impression from 5 out, weakened, 8th of 14, dist behind Tully East (11-12) at Thurles 2m 2f Yielding in Dec.
