tracked leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 3rd, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, disputed 2nd from last, no extra in 4th close home
tracked leaders in 4th, mistake 4 out, progress into 3rd on inner 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
raced in 2nd early, led from 3rd, made rest, ridden run-in, stayed on well, reduced advantage close home
held up in last, moderate last 3 out, headway into closer 5th entering straight, ridden in moderate 4th at last, disputed 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on well into 2n close home, never nearer
held up in 5th, slight mistake 4th and not fluent next, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression
led early, headed 3rd, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, disputed 2nd from last, kept on run-in and dropped to 3rd close home
The four-year-old Kuiper Belt is progressing at a rate of knots having won his first four starts for Gordon Elliott, two of them on the Flat, before disqualified after finishing first past the post in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Listowel. He got back on track at Clonmel a fortnight ago and though up another 6lb will be difficult to beat though Roi De Dubai was beaten less than 2l into fourth and must have a chance of reversing the form. SLIPPERY SERPENT won a Leopardstown maiden on the Flat in July on fast going and was attempting to concede the in-form Brex Drago 10lb when beaten just over a length at Listowel, form that could be good enough for this. Steel Wave had been racing over fences without much luck before failing to take advantage of a lower hurdles mark at Gowran though that was a better race than this. Teacher's Pet is better known as a chaser and ran poorly the last time he ran over hurdles but Court Tycoon has been racing over further since landing a Wexford maiden on fast ground over this trip.
Teacher's Pet (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division when badly hampered and brought down 4th, at Galway 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Kuiper Belt (USA) 11-8fav (11-6) Settled behind leaders in 3rd, improved to challenge after 3 out, disputed before straight, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct beating Our Rachael (10-0) by 1l, 5 ran.
Slippery Serpent (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Mid-division early, 6th halfway, improved to dispute 4th on outer into straight, challenged from 2 out, kept on without matching winner from last, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Brex Drago (11-5) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Steel Wave (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Towards rear, pushed along and some headway on inner 3 out, progress early straight, ridden to go 3rd and slight mistake last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Pass The Ball (10-0) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gd in Oct.
Roi De Dubai (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, soon 3rd and pushed along, ridden to dispute briefly before straight, under pressure in 3rd before 2 out, 2nd and no impression on leader before last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 5, 1 3/4l behind Kuiper Belt (11-6) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Court Tycoon (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no extra before next, weakened, 10th of 15, dist behind Oh'herewego (10-5) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.
