held up towards rear, slightly hampered 4 out, some headway before next where slight mistake, progress to lead after 2 out and 4 lengths clear before last where mistake, strongly pressed run-in, kept on well close home
rear of mid-division, fell 5 out
led, headed after 8th, remained prominent and disputed 3 out, mistake and unseated rider next
mid-division, pecked badly 2nd, ridden and no impression after 3 out, no extra in 5th approaching last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along to go 2nd after 2 out, no impression approaching last, under pressure and challenged run-in, no impression on winner close home
mid-division, 7th when fell 4 out
in rear, never a factor, detached 6th, behind and pulled up before 4 out
rear of mid-division, never a factor, no extra in rear 3 out, mistake last, kept on one pace
tracked leader, headway to lead after 8th, slight mistake 3 out and joined, pushed along and headed after next, no impression approaching last, no extra, kept on one pace run-in
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along after 2 out and no impression in 3rd at last, no extra run-in
Bilbo Bagins has improved with each of his three runs over fences and certainly wasn't stopping when just a length behind Sizing Titanium over 2m1f at Navan. Hand Of The King has shown enough to suggest he can get competitive having fallen when in the lead at Limerick while SIMPLE STEPS showed how effective he is with a test of stamina having battled all the way to score over an extended 3m on heavy ground at Thurles. With conditions again to his liking he looks the one to be on. Aranhill Rascal isn't the most consistent and a strike-rate of 1-26 is hardly inspiring though he ran his best race for some time at Limerick last month. Shrewdoperator gained a shock victory at Cork in November though that was over 2m and he's yet to prove he stays this far.
Bilbo Bagins (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Towards rear, not fluent 4 out, closed and not fluent 3 out, challenged and on terms between last 2, headed from last, soon no impression, kept on closing stages but not get back to winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Sizing Titanium (11-5) at Navan 2m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Tongie (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Towards rear, 9th when hampered and unseated rider 3 out, at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Hand Of The King (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led and disputed early, not fluent 2nd, led before 6th, still in front when fell 3 out, at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Hold Onto Your Hat (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Held up in 5th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 6th of 8, 37 3/4l behind Sutton Place (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Jan.
Simple Steps (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Prominent, disputed at 3rd, 2nd before 4th, led at 7th, soon disputed, led before 4 out, headed 3 out, ridden to lead before last, driven out run-in, won at Thurles 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec beating Cappacurry Zak (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 18 ran.
Aranhill Rascal (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Mid-division, slightly hampered 3 out, soon improved into 4th, ridden in 2nd before last and kept on well run-in without matching winner, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Patsio (10-8) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Time And Times (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Towards rear, 14th at 7th, under pressure and weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Thurles 3m 1f hcp hvy in Dec.
Highest Benefit (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge before 3 out, upsides when mistake and unseated rider 3 out, at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Jan.
Shrewdoperator (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Led, joined approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, soon no extra and left moderate 5th last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 9, 27 1/4l behind Robin Des Mana (11-9) at Punchestown 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Glacial Shadow (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 3 out, no impression before next, 9th of 14, 34l behind The Informer (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
