chased leaders, slight mistake 1st, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened 4 out, completely tailed off
chased leaders, slight mistake 4th, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, progress into 6th 5 out, improved into 2nd and slight mistake 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well before last where slight mistake, kept on under pressure run-in
mid-division, progress into 4th 3 out, ridden before straight, under pressure 2 out, stayed on into 2nd run-in, kept on same pace, just held 2nd at line
chased leaders and ran freely, led briefly after 3rd, headed before next, slight mistakes 6th and 7th, 3rd halfway, weakened before 5 out, pulled up after 3 out
held up in mid-division, mistake 4th, towards rear with a circuit to run, mistake 4 out, soon ridden and no extra, weakened and completely tailed off
mid-division, slight mistake 7th, rear 5 out, soon ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
disputed early, soon chased leader, led before 4th, slight mistakes 5th and 7th, asserted by 5 lengths before 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, soon reduced advantage, mistake 2 out and headed, soon ridden in 3rd, kept on same pace from last
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th after 3 out, no impression before straight
soon led, headed after 3rd, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no extra and weakened before straight, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, progress into 5th 3 out, ridden into 3rd before straight, challenged 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last where slight mistake, soon dropped to 4th, stayed on run-in and just held for 2nd at line
Naturally Blond was beaten under a length on his only previous try over hurdles but she doesn't have much in the way of pace. Crown Of Gold and High Nellie have had a few chances but the latter wasn't beaten far at Cork last month. Vinnie Luck's future will lie over fences but he ran well over timber at Cork and the extra yardage here is a plus. RIVER RUN was backed to beat Alpha Des Obeaux on his hurdles debut in 2014 and was returning from a lengthy absence when a beaten favourite at Limerick in December. He's been off again since but wouldn't be running here if he hadn't been showing something at home. Smitty Bacall showed promise at Tramore so can't be ignored.
Baily Bay (IRE) 10-1 (12-1) Pr, 7th 1/2way, rdn 5out, no ex from 3out, ko onepcd str, 5th of 11, 21l behind Roevin Star (11-10) at Stradbally 3m mdn fm in May.
Burgess View (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Prominent, 4th before 2nd, dropped to 7th after 8th, no impression, detached and driven before 3 out, weakened, tailed off, 6th of 12, dist behind Briar Hill (11-12) at Killarney 2m 5f sft in Aug.
Crown Of Gold (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Settled 4th, 5th at 6th, headway to 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 16l behind Ridestan (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f sft in Aug.
Don't Wait Up 8-1 (11-10) Mid div, 7th 5out, cl 4th bef 3out until cl en 3rd when lft 2nd 2out, no ch with easy wnr bef last, kow, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Potters Approach (12-1) at Dromahane 3m mdn gs in May.
Knockbrack Bud (IRE) 28-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra over 5f out, weakened and tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Rainy Day Dylan (12-0) at Cork 2m 3f Yielding - Soft in Aug.
River Run (FR) 11-10fav (11-4) Held up in 7th, slight mistakes 5th and 9th, not fluent 3 out, closed approaching straight, soon pushed along and no impression in 5th, no extra approaching 2 out, 5th of 10, dist behind Positive Approach (11-4) at Limerick 2m 6f mdn hvy in Dec.
Tee House Point (IRE) Runyon H out of Baroda.
Vinnie Luck (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden to challenge straight, one pace from before last, 3rd of 18, 4 1/4l behind Tikkanen Express (11-12) at Cork 2m mdn gd in Aug.
Barnahash (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along at stages, not fluent 5th, slightly impeded 6th, no impression from before straight, weakened, tailed off, 9th of 19, dist behind Polar Present (11-7) at Cork 2m 4f mdn gd in Aug.
High Nellie (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Led, slight mistake 8th, pressed from before last, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 19, 1 1/4l behind Polar Present (11-7) at Cork 2m 4f mdn gd in Aug.
Leader's Choice (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Soon towards rear, slightly hampered 1st, ridden and no impression 4 out, never a factor, 14th of 20, dist behind Hello Sweetie (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Aug.
Naturally Blond (IRE) 13-8fav (12-0) Led and disputed, ridden in 2nd 4f out, no extra in 3rd 2 1/2f out, weakened 1 1/2f out, 3rd of 6, 35l behind Steel Bob (11-10) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f gd in Sep.
Small World (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 7th on outer halfway, progress 3 out and pushed along in 2nd after next, ridden and no impression in 3rd entering straight, no extra, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Round Tower (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 5f mdn gd in Aug.
Smitty Bacall (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, 11th after 4th, 9th after 6th, progress to 5th after 3 out, 4th 2 out, driven into 3rd after 2 out, kept on same pace in 4th after last, 4th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Timmone (11-4) at Tramore 2m 5f mdn gd in Aug.
