led, jumped left 6th, challenged approaching straight and headed 2 out, under pressure and soon no extra
tracked leader and 3rd halfway, ridden from 2 out, under pressure and no impression on winner run-in
held up in rear, closer entering straight, progress into 5th last, kept on under pressure run-in
towards rear, 8th halfway, not fluent 10th, closer in 7th entering straight, progress to challenge last, under pressure and no impression on winner run-in
chased leaders and 6th halfway, slight mistake 9th, ridden approaching 3 out and no extra from 2 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, 6th 2 out, soon ridden and 4th last, no impression run-in
chased leaders, 7th halfway, 5th entering straight and slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no extra, in rear when fell last
slight mistake 1st, tracked leaders in 4th, progress approaching straight and led 2 out, ridden and challenged last, kept on well under pressure run-in
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, 3rd approaching straight, ridden and no impression in 6th before last, no extra run-in
AVONDHU LADY won this a year ago and, though unsuccessful since and 11lb higher, has been running well. She's 3lb better off with Ballinahow Lady for a two-length defeat in a Grade 3 at Clonmel last time and is taken to reverse the form, though the winner has really found her feet over the past few weeks. Fantastic Gold also holds a verdict over the selection and reverts to chasing after a couple of moderate efforts over fences but it's Victrix Gale who may provide more of a threat. Useful over hurdles as well as fences, he ran a fine race over a longer trip at Cheltenham last time and looks well enough treated though he might just find this on the short side.
Ballinahow Lady (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Disputed lead early, headed when a little slow at 2nd, chased leader after, closed from before 4 out, on terms from before straight, out-jumped 2 out and headed, back on terms last, found more to assert closing stages, won at Clonmel 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1) in Nov beating Backinthere (10-7) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Avondhu Lady (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, improved 5 out, pushed along in 3rd from 3 out, on terms under pressure before straight, better jump 2 out and led, joined last, no extra and kept on same pace run-in, dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Ballinahow Lady (11-0) at Clonmel 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1) in Nov.
Victrix Gale (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd approaching last, no impression, 4th of 10, 5l behind Handy Andy (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Fantastic Gold 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, moderate 6th halfway, 8th but closer 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 11l behind Mrs Mac Veale (10-13) at Naas 2m mares hcp hdl 8Evens23 in Nov.
Glibin (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders and headway to dispute before 9th, headed approaching straight and soon no extra, weakened, completely tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Truckin All Night (11-3) at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Oct.
Sugar Bullet (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division, slight mistake 7th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 9th of 14, well behind Speckled Wood (11-7) at Wexford 2m 3f beg chs sft in Nov.
Liz's D'estruval (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, struggling in a dispute of 4th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Ballinahow Lady (11-0) at Clonmel 2m 4f mares chs Grd 3 (1) in Nov, 8 ran.
She's Got Grit (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Waited with in rear, closer in 6th at 6th, dropped towards rear again 4 out, no impression approaching straight, 7th of 10, 15l behind Rubert (11-3) at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp chs in Nov.
Pur Style (FR) 15-2 (10-4) Waited with, 7th approaching 6 out, closer in 5th approaching straight, no impression under pressure from before last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Rubert (11-3) at Clonmel 2m 3f hcp chs in Nov.
