tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd before 3rd, soon pulled up quickly
waited with, 15th before 3rd, one pace from before straight
chased leaders, 6th before 3rd, 9th approaching straight, soon no impression, kept on without threatening
waited with, 14th before 3rd, no impression from before straight, not fluent last
led, headed and close up and disputed at times from after 1st, lost position and one pace straight
held up, 19th before 3rd, slight mistake next, headway from before 3 out to chase leaders, 6th approaching straight, soon switched left and kept on same pace
tracked leaders, a little slow at 1st, 8th before 3rd, mistake 2 out, mid-division and no impression from before straight, one pace
chased leaders, 9th before 3rd where slight mistake, not fluent 5th, 4th approaching straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace
soon chased leaders, 7th before 3rd, closed 3 out, not fluent next, still 7th approaching straight, went moderate 3rd approaching last and kept on same pace
held up, 18th before 3rd, headway into mid-division and no impression before straight, kept on without threatening
tracked leaders, 5th before 3rd, slight mistake 2 out, 3rd approaching straight, soon chased winner and kept on same pace run-in
always towards rear, never a factor
waited with, 12th before 3rd, 8th approaching straight, soon no impression, not fluent last, kept on without threatening
mid-division early, not always fluent jumping, 10th before 3rd, one pace from before straight
mid-division early, 11th before 3rd, no impression from before straight
tracked leaders, 4th before 3rd, led approaching straight travelling smoothly, pushed out to assert and stayed on well run-in
waited with, 17th before 3rd, no impression from before straight
waited with, 16th before 3rd, slight mistake next, one pace from before straight
always towards rear, never a factor
mid-division early, jumped left 1st, 13th before 3rd, slight mistake 4th, one pace from before straight
A huge field here but few with realistic chances. Active Force, a winning point-to-pointer, made all in a Limerick bumper last month and looks to have plenty going for him on his hurdling debut. Poseidon, a winner on the Flat in the UK, made a fair debut for a new yard at Limerick while Song Of Namibia, twice a winner on the level, will be better for his opening run at Leopardstown. The latter's stable companion Vision D'Honneur won on his only start on the Flat in France and started favourite for his hurdling bow at Leopardstown last month but couldn't quite find a finishing burst. He'll know much more this time and looks the danger to ELIXIR D'AINAY. He was bought by J P McManus after landing a bumper in France just over a year ago and a Grade 1 entry next month shows he's well regarded.
Active Force (IRE) 15-8fav (12-0) Led, 2 lengths clear 7f out, reduced advantage over 3f out, stayed on well over 1f out, kept on best under pressure closing stages, won at Limerick 2m 2f sft in Dec beating Latest Exhibition (12-0) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Classic Concorde (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Waited with, soon towards rear, fell 4th, at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Maddenstown (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, slight mistake 2 out and one pace, 8th of 18, 34l behind City Island (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Mutadaffeq (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Waited with, 14th approaching halfway, some headway but no impression from before 2 out, one pace, 9th of 18, dist behind City Island (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
No Admission (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th approaching halfway, no extra approaching 2 out, 15th of 18, dist behind City Island (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
No Way Jack (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway travelling well 2f out, ridden to go 4th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Duke Of Waspington (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan.
Robbies Magic (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) In rear, badly hampered at 2nd, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 8th of 15, dist behind Swordsman (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn gd in Jan.
Song Of Namibia (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division early, 10th approaching halfway, headway approaching 2 out, soon no extra and one pace, 7th of 18, 33 1/2l behind City Island (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
The Tartan Spartan (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last 2, 7th of 16, 17 3/4l behind Champagne Platinum (11-5) at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Circling Moon (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, 11th of 18, 14 1/4l behind Neverushacon (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Elixir D'Ainay (FR) (9-10) won at Lyon-Parilly 1m 4f stks gd in Nov beating El Merano (9-10) by nk, 7 ran.
Humble Beginings (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tr ldrs until fell 6th, at Borris House 3m mdn gd in Dec.
Kearney 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, no impression next, 10th of 19, 29 1/4l behind Sinoria (10-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Dec.
Poseidon (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division on inner, no impression from 3 out, some late progress from 2 out, 7th of 18, 16 3/4l behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-7) at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Prosecution 66-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, 9th approaching halfway, slight mistakes 5th and 3 out, no impression from before straight, kept on without threatening, 6th of 20, 17l behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Stephenstown Malinas gelding out of Moyliscar.
Vision D'Honneur (FR) 7-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 4th approaching halfway, effort straight, slight mistake last and one pace, 4th of 20, 5 3/4l behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Write It Down (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Chased leaders early, 7th halfway, mid-division after 3 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 8th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Malinas Jack (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Mollyella (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Towards rear, 10th at 6th, under pressure in 9th after 3 out, no extra, 8th of 11, 36 1/4l behind Small Farm (11-4) at Limerick 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.
Darling Days (USA) 100-1 (11-0) Close up and disputed lead, weakened quickly after 3 out, 19th of 20, dist behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Upgraded (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up, slightly impeded 2nd and 3rd, 16th approaching halfway, soon headway, no impression from before straight, kept on without threatening, 9th of 20, 25 1/4l behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Cray (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra, 5th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Bodacious Name (9-7) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Luis Van Zandt (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Held up, jumped slightly right 3rd, 15th approaching halfway, no extra from before straight, 13th of 20, dist behind Klassical Dream (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Blackyellowred (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, slight mistake 3rd, never a factor, 18th of 19, dist behind Valdieu (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn gd in Jan.
Fianchetto (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Always behind, mistake 2nd and slight mistake 3rd, never a factor, 19th of 21, dist behind Moskovite (11-7) at Navan 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Dec.
