chased leaders, ridden in 6th 4 out, staying on in moderate 3rd when fell last
chased leader, closer order 5 out, still 2nd before straight, no impression and kept on same pace from 3 out
chased leaders, not jump well, pushed along towards rear 6 out, no extra from before straight, tailed off
waited with towards rear, closer order 5 out, came through strongly to lead before 2 out, soon ridden to assert, just held on
waited with, closed up to be prominent travelling well 4 out, niggled along before straight, challenged 3 out, no extra and kept on same pace from next
chased leaders in 3rd, 4th 4 out, went in pursuit of winner under pressure before last, kept on well run-in, not quite get there
in rear, closer in 8th 4 out, kept on same pace from after next
keen hold, chased leaders, lost place 5 out, soon no impression, tailed off
attempted to make all and clear, slight mistake 7th, reduced lead 5 out, headed before 2 out, no extra and pecked last, kept on same pace run-in
HARD TO SWALLOW has yet to win in five starts over timber but his overall form gives him the edge. Jim Culloty's winning point-to-pointer and bumper ran in strong company last season and his close fourth behind Batonnier in a Cheltenham Grade 2 in January would be good enough. Lean Times ran a shocker on heavy ground last time and may find these conditions against him while Dreaming On weakened over 2m4f at Roscommon last time. Recent winners Love Rory, Kostar and North Star Lad have much more to do and it's difficult to imagine the latter pair conceding weight to the selection.
Kostar (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Held up, last halfway, pushed along into 5th 3 out, ridden into 2nd 2 out, kept on from last to lead run-in, won at Sligo 2m 4f cond mdn hdl sft in Aug beating Killdunne (11-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Lean Times (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Coole Avenue (10-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl hvy in Sep, 15 ran.
North Star Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Mid-division, 7th halfway, closer and went 3rd 3 out, challenged when not fluent next, led early run-in and soon drew clear, easily, won at Downpatrick 2m 7f mdn hdl sft in Sep beating Pigeon Creek (11-4) by 13l, 10 ran.
Dushrembrandt (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Ww rr, prog in 5th 3out, further prog when mstk 2out & so bef last where good jump to ld early flat, won at Ballybunion 3m ire ptp gd in May beating Mistletoe Cottage (12-0) by 1l, 8 ran.
Hard To Swallow (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway apoproaching 8th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 17th of 20, well behind Brindisi Breeze (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Love Rory (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Always prominent, on terms from 4 out, in front into straight, soon pressed, not fluent last, narrowly headed run-in, stayed on best to regain lead closing stages, won at Listowel 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Sep beating Enchanted Forest (11-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Scarton 12-1 (11-4) Always towards rear, 10th of 13, well behind Golden Kite (11-5) at Galway 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Sep.
Umustnotnoboutme (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Rear of mid-division, progress from 4f out, kept on one paced straight, 7th of 18, 16l behind Seefood (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f N H flat gf in Sep.
Dreaming On (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Soon led and clear, reduced lead approaching 6th, pressed 5 out, pushed along approaching straight, soon headed and no extra, kept on same pace, 6th of 10, 34l behind Letherbelucky (11-5) at Roscommon 2m 4f nh nov hdl sft in Jul.
