waited with, slight mistake 5th, slight mistake 7th and pushed along briefly and last, pushed along again 5 out, no extra approaching 3 out, soon pulled up
prominent, soon 3rd, slight mistake 5 out and lost position, tracking leaders and pushed along approaching straight, on terms travelling smoothly again approaching last where mistake and headed, kept on without matching winner after
waited with, soon towards rear, slight mistake 7th, headway 5 out to chase leaders, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort, no impression between last 2, one pace
led, jumped slightly left at times, not fluent 8th, joined approaching straight, soon headed, not fluent 2 out and one pace
mid-division, soon raced in 5th, 6th before halfway, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort, no impression between last 2, slight mistake last, one pace
chased leaders, soon 4th, closed approaching 5 out, slightly impeded 3 out, effort and slight mistake 2 out, no impression between last 2, mistake last and one pace
waited with, soon towards rear, pushed along 5 out, slight mistake 3 out and no impression, soon pulled up
waited with, soon raced in 6th, 5th before halfway, soon tracked leaders, prominent travelling smoothly from 3 out, on terms approaching straight, soon led, joined approaching last, soon regained lead and stayed on well under pressure
prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along from 3 out and lost position, no extra from before straight, pulled up before 2 out
An extremely strong line-up for this time of year featuring last year's Cheltenham Foxhunter winner It Came To Pass and runner-up Billaway. The former isn't the most consistent but would probably win this at his best, though Willie Mullins' charge has more scope and can turn the tables this time. Aloneamongmillions may have been unbeaten in six starts between the flags but for falling in his debut though meets a better class of rival here as does Winged Leader, the winner of a hunters' race at Down Royal and of seven point-to-points. Mighty Stowaway won an open at Tinahely last month by 30 lengths but, in a race that should prove informative for the rest of the campaign, a chance is taken with ROCKET LAD. He's had an unusual build-up for a hunters chase having run on the Flat in the summer. Rated 145 over hurdles last season, he's having his first start in this sphere and his yard know how to get one ready
Auvergnat (FR) (12-2) Pr, 5th 1/2way, mstk 9th, some prog in 4th bef 3out, went 3rd bef last bt no ch with front pair, ko flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind A Rated (12-2) at Loughrea 3m sft in Oct.
Billaway (IRE) 11-4fav (12-0) Held up mid-division, headway on outside before 3 out, soon tracked leaders, ridden into 2nd when switched inside between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 21, 10l behind It Came To Pass (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, close up going well next, led 2 out, ridden clear before last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar beating Billaway (12-0) by 10l, 21 ran.
Lite Duties (IRE) 4-6 (12-2) Made all, 4l adv frm 7th, chall frm 2out, mstk last & hdd brfly, ld again & went clr 100 yards out, sow, won at Lismore 3m sft in Mar beating Deadheat (12-2) by 8l, 7 ran.
Mighty Stowaway (IRE) (12-2) Made all, 6l ld early, 5l adv 1/2way, gd jmp 5out, 8l adv 4out, 20l clr bef last, nev in dngr, comfortably, won at Tinahely 3m Yielding in Oct beating Rewritetherules (12-2) by dist, 5 ran.
Rocket Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led, joined 3f out, headed over 2f out, ridden and no impression in 4th over 1f out, no extra (finished 7th, placed 6th), 7th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Penny Out (10-11) at Tramore 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Sidetracked 9-4 (12-2) Pr in 4th, 4th 1/2way, slt mstk 8out, rdn in 6th aftr 4out, bhnd in str, ko onepce, 6th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Mad Jack Mytton (12-2) at Turtulla 3m Yielding in Nov.
Stand Up And Fight (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, 8th after 8th, pushed along 10th, soon no extra, pulled up before 2 out, at Killarney 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Winged Leader (IRE) (12-2) Ld til hdd 5th , ld again 4out, 6l clr ld bef 2out, j v well, row, won at Portrush 3m Yielding in Oct beating Jury Duty (12-2) by 6l, 5 ran.
Aloneamongmillions (IRE) 10-3jfav (12-0) Waited with, a little keen, slightly impeded 8th, 6th from 9th, soon towards rear again, closed up and switched right before 3 out, challenged and slight mistake 2 out, led before last and slight mistake, stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m 1f Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Some Man (12-0) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.