led, joined from 3rd, headed 4 out and ridden, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway from 9th, 4th 5 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, led before last, stayed on well under pressure run-in
tracked leaders, 5th 5 out, soon ridden, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, improved to lead on inner 2 out, soon ridden, headed before last, no extra from last
rear of mid-division, headway from 4 out, 4th 3 out, ridden in 4th when slight mistake 2 out, 3rd entering straight, went 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, carried wide on bend after 6 out, ridden in 6th 3 out, soon no impression
towards rear, mistake 3rd, in rear when fell 5 out
always behind, no impression from 6 out, tailed off from 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before next
prominent, disputed lead from 9th, led from 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, dropped to rear at 9th, soon ridden, moderate 7th 3 out, kept on without threatening from next
prominent, disputed lead from 3rd, mistake and headed 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, closer in 4th at 8th, ran out on bend after 9th
towards rear, headway from 8th, 7th next, 5th 4 out, soon ridden, went moderate 4th after 2 out, kept on run-in to go 3rd inside final furlong
CLOSE REVIEW has only won once in 16 starts over fences and connections won't be happy with a 2lb rise for finishing runner-up to Shantalla at Ballinrobe but that was his third good run in succession and he can gain his reward here. Carmels Boy won a hunter chase at Down Royal in May and has done well in two subsequent handicaps so there could be more to come and though Lord Alfie hasn't run since his victory at Fairyhouse in April that was only his fifth start over regulation fences and he could be on a lenient mark. Bangonform has done better over hurdles than fences in his recent races, a remark that also applies to Happy New Year, who completed a hat-trick over timber around this time a year ago.
Carmels Boy (IRE) 7-2fav (9-8) Close up, led before 3 out, headed next, 3rd before last, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Street Runner (10-5) at Down Royal 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-109 gf in Aug.
Whosaidso (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Towards rear, closer in 7th 3 out, no impression next, kept on without threatening, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Kennoway (10-1) at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-109 hvy in Apr.
Agus A Vic (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Towards rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 11th of 14, well behind Queiros Bleu (11-5) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123 gd in Aug.
Emperor Concerto 7-1 (11-12) Soon towards rear, behind 8th, not a factor after, kept on same pace from 3 out, 7th of 18, well behind Shantalla (10-11) at Listowel 3m hcp chs 0-102 in Sep.
Pocketfullapennies (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leader and pushed along in 4th halfway, ridden and no impression in 8th approaching straight, kept on one pace without threatening, 6th of 16, 16l behind World Citizen (10-11) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-95 gd in Sep.
Thelobstercatcher 10-1 (11-8) Soon towards rear, under pressure 6 out, no extra and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Ballylibert (11-0) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Sep, 18 ran.
Dear Boss (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Soon off the pace in mid-division, moderate 9th at 8th, some headway from before 4 out, fell next, in a race won by Shantalla (10-11) at Listowel 3m hcp chs 0-102 in Sep, 18 ran.
Ballygill Gale (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Soon towards rear, under pressure from 7 out, dropped behind approaching 2 out, 17th of 18, well behind Ballylibert (11-0) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Sep.
Micks (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 10th 4 out, ridden from next, soon no impression, pulled up before last, in a race won by Lord Alfie (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-102 gs in Apr, 20 ran.
Mollys Captain (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Towards rear and niggled along at stages, no extra from 4 out and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Mount Sion (11-1) at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Aug, 15 ran.
Naughty Molly (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Well off the pace towards rear, no impression and kept on same pace under pressure without threatening from before 2 out, 9th of 18, 12l behind Ballylibert (11-0) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Sep.
Spiker The Biker (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Soon led, joined 7th, headed from next, still prominent when fell 4 out, in a race won by Raajih (11-7) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f beg chs gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Bendala Bleu 33-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, mistake 7 out, ridden and no impression 5 out, weakened and tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Owega Star (11-12) at Listowel 2m 6f beg chs sft in Sep.
Western Star (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear and well off pace, some progress 3 out, went remote 4th from 2 out, remote 3rd from last, no extra, 3rd of 11, 31l behind Pollywollydoodle (10-11) at Sligo 3m mdn hdl gs in Aug.
Bangonform (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, 5th 4 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace, 8th of 17, 14l behind Blackwell Synergy (11-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl sft in Sep.
Close Review (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders and 6th halfway, no impression in 5th 2 out where left 4th, went 2nd at last and kept on under pressure run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Shantalla (10-4) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-109) gd in Sep.
Lord Alfie (IRE) 28-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway from 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, led before last, stayed on well run-in, all out, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp chs 0-102 gs in Apr beating Easy Vic (10-8) by hd, 20 ran.
Happy New Year (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Prominent, led 4th, headed from next, 4th approaching 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 8th of 20, 15l behind Call Me Bubbles (10-2) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl sft in Aug.
City of Doral 20-1 (10-6) Rear of mid-division, 10th 3 out, soon ridden, kept on one paced on outer straight, 6th of 17, 8l behind Glenconkeyne (11-0) at Galway 2m 2f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (8Evens16) (4yo+) in Aug.
