towards rear, no impression when fell 3 out
tracked leaders, 3rd early, 4th before halfway, lost place before 3 out, no impression into straight, soon no extra
a little keen, chased leaders, 5th after 3rd, progress to chase winner into straight, soon slightly impeded and no extra
tracked leader, still prominent when slight mistake 3 out, soon weakened
slight mistake 1st, raced in 4th early, 3rd before halfway, 2nd approaching 5 out, mistake 3 out, lost place and no impression into straight, soon no extra
mid-division, 6th after 3rd, closed approaching 3 out, no impression and slightly impeded approaching last in 3rd, kept on without matching 1st 2 run-in
led, slight mistake 1st, went on before 3 out, pushed along into straight, pressed 2 out, joined from before last where slight mistake, soon headed and one pace
held up towards rear, closed up travelling smoothly on outer into straight, challenged 2 out, on terms from before last, soon led and stayed on best
Billy De Kid was in touch for most of the way at Wexford last weekend and stayed on gamely so he should be winning soon as should Ceide Fields, who led two out at Galway and ran on when headed on the run-in. Russellstown has had six starts since August and not been beaten far in any of them. He did very well to chase home Mick Jazz at Clonmel and should get into the frame again. That winner's trainer is represented by Sutton Manor, an expensive purchase after finishing runner-up between the flags then starting odds-on for a Thurles bumper in January and being well beaten into second. The ground was very heavy that day and he should do much better now tackling hurdles on quicker going. THE WEST'S AWAKE was a beaten favourite in two bumpers in February but, though having no answer to Derulo at Down Royal in May, he'll have come on nicely for the experience and looks the one to be on.
Big Fat Sam Black Sam Bellamy gelding out of Arctic Ace.
Billy De Kid (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Bull Ride (11-4) at Wexford 2m mdn gd in Oct.
Ceide Fields 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, left in lead from 3rd, pressed approaching straight, headed after last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Presenting Percy (11-12) at Galway 2m mdn Yielding in Oct.
Finest Hour (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, no impression from 5 out, ridden and no extra 3 out, 9th of 12, dist behind Mick Jazz (11-12) at Clonmel 2m mdn gd in Oct.
Hold Your Nerve (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 6th at 8th, slight mistake 5 out, not fluent next, weakened approaching straight, pulled up before 3 out, at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn hvy in Oct.
Russellstown (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden to challenge before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out, under pressure in close 3rd last, kept on same pace into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Mick Jazz (11-12) at Clonmel 2m mdn gd in Oct.
Sutton Manor (IRE) 5-6fav (11-12) Led and disputed, chased leader after 4f, ridden over 3f out, no impression in 3rd 2f out, 2nd and no chance with winner over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 16, 22l behind Any Drama (11-12) at Thurles 2m hvy in Jan.
The West's Awake (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Slight mistake 1st, raced in 14th early, slightly slow 5th, improved 4 out, on terms from before 3 out, soon led, joined from before last where mistake, soon headed and one pace, 2nd of 20, 4l behind Derulo (11-12) at Down Royal 2m mdn gd in May.
She's A Survivor (IRE) Kalanisi M out of Carnbelle.
Charlestown Boy (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 3f out, no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Licklighter (12-0) at Killarney 2m 1f gd in Jul.
