tracked leader, tended to jump a little to his right, closer order 7th, on terms next, led from 5 out, joined 3 out, not match winner and narrowly headed closing stages
waited with in behind leaders, soon 3rd of the 4, mistake 4th, closed up to be prominent 5 out, bustled along before straight, on terms 3 out, stayed on best to edge ahead closing stages
led, clear early, reduced lead 7th, joined next, headed and bad peck 5 out, soon dropped to last, rallied from before last where 3rd when mistake, no impression and kept on run-in
waited with in behind leaders, soon last of the 4, 3rd from 5 out, dropped to last again final fence, no extra and kept on same pace run-in
The two five-year-olds, Sizing Rio and DARROUN, have the scope to go on to much better things and can fight this out. The former is suited to testing conditions as he showed with a sparkling chasing debut success at Tipperary so any further rain would greatly aid his cause. The latter put a couple of moderate runs over fences behind him when scoring very impressively at Tipperary and, though this is a much better contest, he's a smart prospect and can complete the double. Owega Star looked a very nice chaser when scoring at Listowel and ran a fine race behind the classy Rebel Fitz at Tipperary and though Cootamundra lacks the scope of some of his rivals he's produced some strong performances and won't go down without a fight.
Golden Wonder (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Settled mid-division, moderate 6th halfway, headway into 4th 3 out, closer in 3rd 2 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, kept on well to lead run-in, won at Galway 2m 6f beg chase hvy in Aug beating Spring Heeled (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Owega Star (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Waited with towards rear, closer in 5th at 7th, 4th 4 out, mistake next, soon struggling, 3rd 2 out, soon chased winner in 2nd but no impression, kept on run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Rebel Fitz (11-8) at Tipperary 2m 4f nov chs (1) gd.
Darroun (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, headway into 2nd after 6 out, led after 3 out, pushed out to go clear before last, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Tipperary 2m 7f beg chs gd beating Carhue (11-12) by 20l, 9 ran.
Cootamundra (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Waited with towards rear, headway approaching straight, soon chased leaders, no impression from 2 out, moderate 2nd and kept on without troubling easy winner from last, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Darwins Fox (11-1) at Roscommon 2m nov chs (1) gf in Sep.
Clar Na Mionn (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th after 3 out, no impression in 5th 2 out, kept on same pace without threatening into 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Rebel Fitz (11-8) at Tipperary 2m 4f nov chs (1) gd.
Sizing Rio (IRE) 9-10fav (11-5) Chased leaders in 3rd, left 2nd 4th, improved to lead 4 out, slightly hampered by loose horse 3 out and disputed briefly afterwards, led travelling best before straight, pushed out before last, ridden and kept on strongly run-in, won at Tipperary 2m 4f beg chase hvy in May beating Benevolent (11-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Toon River (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Attempted to make all, not always fluent jumping, headed after 5 out, briefly in front again next, no extra when mistake 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Roi Du Mee (11-10) at Cork 3m chs Grade 3 (1) in Mar.
