waited with in rear, jumped slightly left 1st, some headway and ridden on outer approaching straight, soon one pace
led, joined 2nd, soon headed, on terms from before final hurdle, led over 1f out, soon strongly pressed, headed and one pace inside final 50yds
waited with, raced in 17th early, some headway from before final hurdle, no extra from under 2f out
raced in 7th early, slight mistake 3rd, effort towards outer from before straight, soon one pace
waited with and raced in 11th early, headway and effort straight, stayed on well final furlong, led inside final 50yds and quickly asserted
prominent, effort straight, soon one pace
raced in 9th early, not always fluent jumping, no extra from under 2f out
raced in 10th early, some headway from before final hurdle, no extra from under 2f out
waited with, raced in 14th early, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, no extra straight
waited with and raced in 15th early, some headway and not much room towards inner after final hurdle, kept on same pace without threatening straight
prominent, slight mistake 4th, slight mistake final hurdle, lost place from before straight and no extra
raced in 13th early, pushed along briefly 5th, soon headway, kept on same pace straight
raced in 6th early, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, challenged over 1f out, soon every chance, one pace closing stages
waited with and raced in 18th early, headway straight, kept on without threatening final furlong
raced in 5th early, effort straight, one pace 1f out
waited with and raced in 12th early, headway and effort straight, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
raced in 8th early, headway and effort straight, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
waited with, raced in 16th early, slightly impeded 1st, slight mistake 2nd, soon headway, effort straight, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
prominent, on terms 2nd, soon led, joined from before final hurdle, headed over 1f out, soon no extra and one pace
Charles Byrnes won this last year with Off You Go, who is now 20lb higher after scoring at Galway in October where he beat Hearts Are Trumps by just over a length. He finished behind the latter in a Grade A handicap at Fairyhouse in December when his stable companion Wonder Laish gained his third victory from four starts over hurdles beating Tudor City half-a-length. The winner is up 8lb but is still capable of better and has to be on the short-list as does the runner-up, though he could only finish fifth behind Jetez over the course and distance in December. Jessica Harrington's charge has subsequently finished runner-up in a Grade 2 at Punchestown and looks to be on the upgrade so should get into contention though the vote goes to URADEL (NAP). Willie Mullins' charge, runner-up to stable companion Low Sun in the Cesarewitch, beat the classy Limini on the Flat at the Galway Festival and can take advantage of what looks a lowly hurdles mark.
Campeador (FR) 9-10fav (11-8) Tracked leader in 2nd throughout, close 2nd and strongly pressed winner 2 out, soon ridden, no impression on winner at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 3, 7 1/2l behind Articulum (11-2) at Naas 2m Good - Yielding in Jan.
Jezki (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Held up early, moderate 4th halfway, ridden and no impression before 2 out, soon no extra, 4th of 7, 35 3/4l behind Apple's Jade (11-3) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Wonder Laish 10-3fav (10-10) Mid-division on inner, close 7th on inner entering straight, went 4th 2 out, pushed along to lead before last, ridden run-in, stayed on well, reduced advantage close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec beating Tudor City (10-3) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
Blazer (FR) 7-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along early straight, ridden and no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Duca De Thaix (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp gd in Jan.
Off You Go (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, stumbled on landing at 1st, pushed along in 5th entering straight, ridden and no impression from 2 out, 8th of 21, 7 1/4l behind Wonder Laish (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Hearts Are Trumps (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway into 3rd after 3 out, ridden in close 3rd 2 out, 2nd at last, dropped to 3rd after last, no extra in 4th close home, 4th of 21, 1 1/4l behind Wonder Laish (10-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Jetez (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Soon chased leaders in 4th, pushed along briefly after 4th, pushed along again from 6th, soon 3rd, 2nd before 3 out, effort and kept on without matching winner straight, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Felix Desjy (11-2) at Punchestown 2m (1) gd in Jan.
Mitchouka (FR) 15-8 (11-6) Tracked leaders, jumped high 2nd and reminders, slight mistake 6th, headway to challenge 3 out, slight mistake next, ridden and dropped to 4th last, no extra run-in, 5th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Uisce Beatha (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f gd in Jan.
Sayar (IRE) 6-4fav (9-11) Mid-division, ridden into 5th 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, 8th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Aircraft Carrier (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Tully East (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Waited with, 13th approaching halfway, headway from before 2 out, one pace from before last, 10th of 17, 14 3/4l behind Jetez (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Twobeelucky 20-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 12th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Agusta Gold (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Jan.
Cartwright 16-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division on outer, headway on wide outer into 3rd entering straight, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, no impression, 6th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Agusta Gold (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Jan.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division early, 6th approaching halfway, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression and impeded last, one pace, 14th of 17, 22 1/4l behind Jetez (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Tudor City (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, 5th approaching halfway, effort straight, kept on same pace from last, 5th of 17, 6 1/4l behind Jetez (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Due Reward (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, lost position from 2 out, dropped to rear and no extra straight, last of 6, dist behind Aramon (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Dec.
Uradel (GER) 7-1cfav (9-11) Rear of mid-division, 12th halfway, no impression 2f out, soon ridden, one paced final furlong, 11th of 20, 14 1/2l behind Mr Everest (8-5) at Naas 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 10-3 (10-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, headway to lead travelling well entering straight, went clear 2 out, soon pushed along, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Jan beating Oscars Den (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Try Again (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Rear of mid-division on inner, took keen hold, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in m 4th next, moderate 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 5 1/4l behind Eclair De Beaufeu (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Jan.
Free Ranger (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and led when slight mistake 2 out, soon strongly pressed, headed at last, stayed on well in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Geneva Barracks (11-0) at Naas 2m hcp Yielding in Jan.
