chased leader in 3rd throughout, no threat from 3 out, kept on one pace under pressure in straight
made all and raced keenly, slight mistakes 2nd and 3 out, 5 lengths advantage throughout until cruised clear early straight, very easily
chased leader in 2nd, not jump fluently, no impression on easy winner from early straight, well beaten when mistake last
raced in 4th throughout, blundered 3rd and not jump fluently, no threat from 3 out
Flaxen Fare won a Nottingham handicap for Andrew Balding in October and beat a big field of hurdlers on his debut for Gordon Elliott at Leopardstown. There's more to come from him while the filly Faanan Aldaar was the only one to give the heavily supported Dalasiri a race at Cork and her allowance will help. Willie Mullins muddies the water by saddling French recruits Dogora and DIAKALI, both very impressive winners when odds-on for their respective debuts over timber. The latter gets the nod by virtue of being an entry in the Triumph Hurdle and he'll be shorter than 20/1 for Cheltenham if taking this easily.
Baby Jake (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed under 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 8th of 13, 9l behind Great Soprano (9-5) at Dundalk 1m mdn stks pol in Dec (flat).
Diakali (FR) 2-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, led before 4 out, travelling best early straight and cruised clear run-in, unextended, won at Gowran Park 2m 3yo mdn hdl hvy in Nov beating Crouching Harry (10-9) by 12l, 6 ran.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division early, 7th halfway, headway in 3rd entering straight, ridden to lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 3yo mdn hdl sft in Dec beating Ibsen (10-9) by 2 1/4l, 17 ran.
Faanan Aldaar (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Waited with, closer in 6th 4 out, wide straight and chased winner 2 out, no impression and kept on without threatening run-in, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Dalasiri (11-0) at Cork 2m 4yo mdn hdl.
Dogora (FR) 1-2fav (11-0) Soon disputed lead, in front after 3 out, went on from before next, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m 3yo mdn hdl hvy in Dec beating Spot The Pro (10-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
