held up in 4th, pushed along from 3 out, stayed on well to go 2nd closing stages but not reach winner
led, a little keen, pushed along from 2 out, reduced lead and held on at the finish
raced in 2nd, 3rd at 6th, went 2nd again from 2 out, soon pushed along and edged slightly right, slight mistake last, no extra and dropped to 4th closing stages
in rear and detached, closer order into straight, pushed along from 3 out where slight mistake, soon no impression and not fluent 2 out, no extra
raced in 3rd, a little keen, jumped right 4th, 2nd at 6th, pushed along from 3 out, soon under pressure, slight mistake 2 out, soon no impression until stayed on without matching 1st 2 run-in
Some useful types have won this and favourites have an excellent record. Willie Mullins has won three of the last five and is represented by Noble Inn, a winner at the Curragh in September before landing the odds over timber at Clonmel. He was soon beaten in a Grade 3 handicap at Ascot last time but this is more his level. Bright New Dawn hasn't run over hurdles since 2013 when he landed a Grade 2 novices' event. He's proved himself a smart chaser but hasn't won for almost two years and still has to concede weight all round due to his high rating. His stable companion Roman Gold landed a maiden and a novices' event before a reasonable run at Punchestown though he may do better over further. Sizing Tennessee was returning from a two-year break when well beaten at Leopardstown last month and may need another run so in the hope that he's ready after a break since August it's PRUSSIAN EAGLE who gets the vote. Placed at Grade 1 and 3 level in the spring, he won on the Flat in the summer and looks to have the scope for better things over hurdles. Cliffside Park has a strike-rate of 1-17 which doesn't look good enough for this.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Held up, not fluent and slightly impeded 2nd, not much room on inner around bypassed 3 out, 7th approaching straight and pushed along, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, no extra, 7th of 10, 32l behind Nearly Nama'd (10-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, slight mistake and ridden 2 out, no extra entering straight, 8th of 10, 20 3/4l behind Copy That (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Noble Inn (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Never better than mid-division, driven and weakened after 4 out, 18th of 21, dist behind Jolly's Cracked It (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Prussian Eagle (IRE) 5-1 (9-13) Dwelt, soon raced 4th, travelled well to lead on inner over 1f out, kept on 1f out, headed final 100 yards, not match winner, 2nd of 19, 1/2l behind To Choose (9-7) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Cliffside Park (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 8 1/2l behind Squouateur (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp hvy in Dec.
Roman Gold (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Settled in 4th, closer in 3rd 3 out, challenged before next, ridden in 3rd entering straight, under pressure in 2nd before last, no extra in 3rd last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 8 1/2l behind A Great View (11-0) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
