always behind, trailing 6th, pulled up before 5 out
mid-division on inner, headway after 4 out, 6th next, soon ridden, 4th 2 out, led before last stayed on strongly run-in, comfortably
tracked leaders, 3rd 5 out, ridden and weakened after next
tracked leaders, 7th 5 out, headway into 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd next, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden in 11th 3 out, kept on one paced
in rear, some progress from 3 out, ridden and kept on one paced
tracked leader in 2nd, led and disputed lead from 4th, headed 4 out, ridden and under pressure when mistake next, 5th 2 out, no impression
mid-division on outer, ridden from 4 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, 4th on inner when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division, 12th 5 out, ridden in 7th 3 out, no impression from next
rear of mid-division, bad mistake 5 out, brought down next
led, mistake and headed 4th, 4th 5 out, ridden after next, no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders, led or disputed lead from 6th, led 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed after next, headed before last, no impression in 3rd run-in
rear of mid-division, no impression after 4 out, kept on same pace straight
tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 9th 5 out, ridden 3 out, moderate 8th next, kept on without threatening
always behind, mistakes 5th and 10th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division and mistake 1st, soon rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
rear of mid-division, headway into 10th 3 out, soon ridden, went 2nd next, no impression on winner in 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders on inner, ridden in 10th before 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out and pulled up before last
mid-division, 13th 5 out, fell next
rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
mid-division, weakened from 12th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, weakened from 10th, in rear and trailing from next
mid-division on inner, ridden in 13th after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
always towards rear, mistake 1st, no impression from 4 out
Gordon Elliott has won the last two of these and has an incredible 11 entries this time around. Gigginstown have six engaged and Bryan Cooper has chosen Empire Of Dirt, who put his jumping problems behind him to land two very tough handicaps earlier this year including a Grade 3 at Cheltenham. He was earlier receiving 4lb when beating Killer Crow at Leopardstown but though the latter is massively better off at the weights he hasn't been in anything like the same form. The novice Killer Miller is a smart prospect and makes his handicap debut but Sambremont's two chasing victories were gained on heavy going. HASH BROWN has a chance on last month's easy victory at Galway and Barry Geraghty, who rode him, wouldn't be able to do the weight. Mark Walsh takes the ride and can steer Mick Hourigan's charge to another success in this ultra-tough handicap. Noble Endeavor failed to finish in his last two starts over the bigger obstacles but is definitely one of the Elliott battalions to keep on the right side.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 20-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along in rear halfway, no extra after 4 out, 5th of 6, 26 3/4l behind Arctic Skipper (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Hampered 3rd, held up behind, headway into mid-division 9th (water), close up on outside 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden after last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar beating Tango De Juilley (11-4) by 4l, 22 ran.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 5 out, no extra before 4 out, weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) In rear, never a factor, pushed along before 4 out, no impression 2 out and moderate 6th approaching last, kept on run-in, 5th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 2nd and mistake 8th, ridden into 5th entering straight, no extra before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Sea Light (10-12) at Clonmel 3m hcp Yielding in Nov.
Realt Mor (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 13th, chased front pair after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 3rd of 9, 8 1/2l behind Astracad (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Domesday Book (USA) 13-8fav (11-0) Disputed, headed after 4th, pushed along in 3rd 4 out, slight mistake next and ridden, soon no extra in 5th, kept on one pace behind from 2 out, 5th of 7, 17 1/2l behind Bay Of Freedom (10-9) at Wexford 2m 7f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Draycott Place (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Prominent, soon 2nd, slight mistake 6th, every chance 3 out, one pace next, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Westerner Point (10-4) at Cork 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Shadow Catcher 25-1 (11-5) Ran 6th, pushed along after 4 out, some progress in 5th before 2 out, ridden and no extra approaching last, 5th of 7, 17 1/4l behind Sub Lieutenant (11-8) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.
Killer Miller (IRE) 13-8fav (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, 5th at 9th, 6th and bad mistake 12th, 5th at 13th, 4th and mistake 3 out, 3rd and switched left before 2 out, soon ridden, ran on run-in without threatening winner, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Shantou Flyer (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 6f (1) Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Sambremont (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along in 6th entering straight, ridden and no extra approaching last, 9th of 15, 15 1/4l behind Avant Tout (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Raz De Maree (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 4th halfway, mistake 5 out, ridden entering straight, stayed on to challenge before 2 out, led 2 out, kept on well under pressure run-in, edged left closing stages, won at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov beating Forever Gold (10-0) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Bonny Kate (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, jumped left 2nd, 6th halfway, pushed along in 4th entering straight and no impression in 5th approaching last, no extra, 6th of 13, 16 3/4l behind Definite Ruby (9-12) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Mountain King 4-1 (11-12) Held up, in rear, not fluent 4th, hit 8th, headway approaching 4 out, 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Roman Flight (11-8) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Venitien De Mai (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Prominent early, soon chased leaders in 3rd, mistake 4th and dropped to 4th, slight mistake 9th and towards rear, ridden and no impression 4 out, kept on under pressure into 6th before straight, no impression in moderate 5th entering straight, one paced, 6th of 7, 20 1/4l behind Bay Of Freedom (10-9) at Wexford 2m 7f lst (1) gd in Oct.
Woodford Island (IRE) 6-5fav (11-12) Prominent, slightly impeded 1st, not fluent 5th, led briefly 3 out, pushed along from 2 out, led again and stayed on best run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f gd in Nov beating Jimmy Two Times (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Folsom Blue (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Towards rear, reminder after 6th, 14th at 7th, slightly detached in 15th after 8th, mistake at 9th, soon ridden, pulled up before 10th, at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Abolitionist (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, slow 2nd and 3rd, 4th halfway, pushed along to go 2nd approaching 2 out and soon challenged, under pressure and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Definite Soldier (9-12) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Akorakor (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Led and disputed, mistake 4 out and headed, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Captain Von Trappe (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, fell 8th, at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Killer Crow (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along and pecked badly 2 out, no impression run-in, 5th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Realt Mor (11-12) at Down Royal 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Down Under (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 8th approaching 10th, no impression in 5th 2 out, soon no extra, 5th of 10, 6 3/4l behind As De Pique (11-0) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Mad Brian (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Soon led, headed before 4 out, ridden after 3 out and no impression in 5th at last, kept on one pace, 5th of 16, 8 1/2l behind The Jazz Singer (11-0) at Navan 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Hash Brown (IRE) 3-1fav (10-11) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, left 5th at 9th, went 3rd at last, pushed along and progress to lead 1f out, ridden to assert and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Oct beating Dromnea (11-5) by 4 1/4l, 11 ran.
Georges Conn (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Mid-division early, soon dropped to rear, detached from 4 out, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind A Toi Phil (11-3) at Punchestown 2m 6f (1) sft in Nov.
He Rock's (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division, badly hampered 3rd and slight mistake next, 7th halfway, progress into 3rd approaching 2 out, ridden and no extra in 5th after last, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 14l behind Hash Brown (10-11) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Yielding in Oct.
As De Pique (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, progress into 6th before 4 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, no extra in 3rd 2 out, 4th last, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 12l behind Raz De Maree (10-11) at Cork 3m 4f hcp gd in Nov.
Sonny B (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, lost place before 3 out where hampered, ridden in 7th entering straight, stayed on and slightly hampered 2 out, 3rd before last, no impression run-in and kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Rogue Trader (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
