led early, soon tracked leaders, led again from 5th, travelling well and clear of remainder with 2nd from before 3 out, pressed and joined from before next, asserted under pressure and drew on closing stages
soon waited with off strong pace, closed to track winner from 4 out, ridden approaching straight, soon challenged and on terms until no extra and kept on same pace closing stages
prominent early until dropped off pace from before 4th, never involved after until ridden into moderate 3rd and kept on same pace straight
soon prominent, 2nd approaching 5 out, lost place from next, soon no extra and pulled up before 2 out
soon prominent, led after 2nd, headed after 5th, soon struggling, moderate 4th and kept on same pace straight
struggling to get involved in last from before 4th, never a factor, pulled up before 2 out
Lambro had FLEMENSTAR around behind when landing a Grade 2 hurdle over 2m4f at Fairyhouse in April and made a very promising start over fences when scoring over 2m3f here in November. It's a surprise to see him dropping back in trip and his old rival can take his revenge as he made all and jumped superbly to win very easily over 2m1f at Navan. Monastrell battled to victory over this C&D in October but couldn't handle the step up to Grade 2 level at Punchestown subsequently. He'll need to bounce back as will Westmeath, a winner on his chasing debut at Gowran in October but nowhere near that level when strongly fancied in a Grade 3 at Galway three weeks later.
Flemenstar (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Made all, jumped well, went clear before 3 out and totally in command in straight, very easily, won at Navan 2m 1f beg chs sft in Nov beating High Desert (11-12) by 19l, 10 ran.
Lambro (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Always prominent, 3rd halfway, challenged from early straight, narrow advantage last, driven out and kept on well run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f beg chs in Nov beating Shinrock Paddy (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 18 ran.
Monastrell 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th after 5 out, no extra next, weakened and tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Days Hotel (11-4) at Punchestown 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Westmeath (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, moderate 4th 3 out, raced very wide approaching next, soon no extra, eased closing stages, blowing hard post race, last of 6, well behind Sweeps Hill (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs (1) hvy in Oct.
Cottrelsbooley (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Reluctant to line up, prominent and tracked leader in 2nd, lost touch with easy winner approaching 3 out, moderate 3rd before next, no extra, 4th of 10, 43l behind Flemenstar (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f beg chs sft in Nov.
On The Loose (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden in 5th and no extra entering straight, weakened, 12th of 16, 44l behind Luke's Benefit (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Nov.
