held up ridden, ridden in 11th 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace
held up towards rear, ridden in 12th 2 out, kept on one pace straight
mid-division, ridden and no extra 3 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd entering straight, stayed on well from last to lead run-in, kept on well closing stages
always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out
led and disputed, ridden and narrowly headed before last, led again last, headed run-in, no extra closing stages and lost 3rd close home
chased leaders, improved to challenge and mistake 3 out, ridden and no extra next, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden in 9th 2 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 6th entering straight, no impression before last where slight mistake, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, no impression in 4th last, kept on same pace run-in
soon mid-division, ridden 3 out, no extra before next
chased leaders, 7th halfway, progress in 5th 2 out, challenged entering straight, ridden to narrow lead approaching last, headed and slight mistake last, kept on to dispute briefly run-in, no extra in 2nd closing stages
held up towards rear, ridden in 10th 2 out, stayed on in 5th when slight mistake last, kept on run-in to 3rd close home
mid-division, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace
prominent, slight mistake 1st and chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, mistake 7th, 3rd halfway, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leader, led and disputed from before 3rd, ridden after 3 out, no extra in 4th entering straight, weakened
These qualifiers are never the easiest to predict. Marlbrook won a point-to-point then a maiden hurdle by 17l before two runs over fences and he's very much an unknown. Clonard Lad has to be a threat to all as he did well to finish runner-up to The Game Changer here as the 2m trip was much too short. Thunder And Roses has been going really well in similar company, will love the ground and the trip is just right so he must go on the short-list. Oscars Well is a Grade 1 winner over hurdles who was rated 162 in the 2012 Champion Hurdle. He's been mixing it with the very best over fences and, now down to 150 and a claimer taking off 7lb, he has a definite chance. INIS MEAIN is rated 110 on the Flat after three placed efforts in Listed company so a mark of 121 over hurdles should be easily manageable. He's undoubtedly been disappointing but is handed another chance in a tricky event.
Oscars Well (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Prominent, struggling in a dispute of 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Marito (11-9) at Tramore 2m 5f lst chs (1) hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Sadler's Risk (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, driven and lost place after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 16th of 21, well behind Minella Forfitness (10-3) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Vics Canvas (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Prominent and 3rd halfway, lost place and mistake 2 out, ridden entering straight and moderate 9th at last, kept on one pace, 8th of 21, 24l behind Courage (10-1) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Jetson (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders early, slight mistake 6th and held up, 6th halfway, progress into 4th 6 out, mistake and ridden 3 out, no impression in 3rd entering straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Mala Beach (11-8) at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) in Jan.
Too Scoops (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, tended to jump a little left, 3rd before 3 out, no impression from next, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Hunting Party (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f beg chs in Nov.
Festive Felon (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden 3 out, soon dropped to rear and no extra, last of 4, 27l behind Clondaw Court (11-5) at Thurles 2m 6f nov hdl sft in Jan.
Marlbrook (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Tracking leaders when fell 2nd, in a race won by Rogue Angel (11-11) at Punchestown 3m beg chs hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Un Beau Roman (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division and kept wide, 8th 3 out, closer next but no extra early straight, 9th of 21, 26l behind Courage (10-1) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Clonard Lad (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Led and disputed, ridden in lead entering straight, headed last, kept on same pace run-in, pressed for 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind The Game Changer (11-4) at Punchestown 2m nh nov hdl in Dec.
Gold Patrol (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, 8th halfway, progress 2 out and 2nd entering straight, ridden in 4th before last and no extra run-in, 4th of 21, 7l behind Courage (10-1) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft in Dec.
Coole Avenue (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, moderate 6th halfway, dropped towards rear 5 out, no extra and weakened, 10th of 19, well behind Too Late To Sell (10-1) at Punchestown 3m 1f in Jan.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, 2nd and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to narrow lead last, strongly pressed and disputed run-in, kept on close home, headed last strides, 2nd of 11, hd behind Annie Oakley (10-4) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl in Jan.
Inis Meain (USA) 11-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders in 3rd, not jump fluently and mistake 3rd, progress to lead briefly before 2 out, ridden approaching last and no impression in 3rd early run-in, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 9, 9l behind Dysios (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m hdl sft in Dec.
Questions Answered (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Soon mid-division, 12th early, no impression and kept on same pace from 2 out, 14th of 28, 48l behind Rockyaboya (10-3) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs 0-145 sft in Dec.
Up The Beat 8-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, effort on outside 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, 4th of 23, 10l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Mar '12.
Ibsen (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders early, soon mid-division, ridden into 7th 2 out, no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on one pace, 6th of 17, 18l behind Mister Nibbles (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Jan.
