led early until headed at 1st, regained lead before 2nd and made rest, ran around and rider briefly lost iron 2nd, hung to outer on bend after 3rd, pushed clear before last, stayed on strongly under hands and heels run-in, comfortably
rear of mid-division, progress into 6th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened entering straight
tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 3 out, 6th entering straight, moderate 6th at last, kept on one pace
towards rear, some progress into moderate 7th entering straight, no impression
in rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor
mid-division on inner, slight mistake 1st, mistake 4 out, weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, went 5th 3 out, 2nd travelling well entering straight, ridden before last, no impression on winner approaching last, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pecked at 3rd, 2nd 3 out, ridden from 2 out, 3rd entering straight, moderate 4th at last, no impression
tracked leaders on outer, slight mistakes 4th, 5th and 6th, soon weakened
mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, 7th 3 out, pushed along and headway before last, moderate 3rd at last, kept on without threatening under mostly hands and heels inside final furlong
mid-division on inner, rear of mid-division and slight mistake 5th, mistake 6th, moderate 11th 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace
saddle slipped forward shortly after start, soon led on outer and took keen hold, pulled up before 2nd
mid-division on outer, 9th 3 out, some progress after 2 out, soon no impression
Aspire Tower, a winner on the Flat for Richard Hannon, was placed in Listed company on soft ground at Hamilton in July. Gealach didn't make a bad start over hurdles on heavy ground at Fairyhouse and though just behind Instant Return can turn the tables on his more experienced rival. Morph showed his liking for testing ground with a couple of decent efforts on the Flat in October while Sea Ducor showed massive improvement when stepped up to 1m6f and beating a big field at Navan and looks a hurdling type, as does the lightly-raced Weather Alert. Wolf Prince finished runner-up in four out of five starts for Amy Murphy but YAFORDADOE is the interesting one here. A half-brother to a winning hurdler, he won two 7f handicaps on testing ground in October and his trainer must believe he'll make a jumper. Majority Share was beaten a long way into second at Gowran and has since run poorly at Dundalk.
Aspire Tower (IRE) 11-1 (9-5) Held up mid-division, ridden and progress on outside over 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd last strides, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Sapa Inca (9-5) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Futurum Regem (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) In rear, mistake and fell at 1st, at Galway 2m mdn sft in Oct.
Gealach (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, mistake 6th, ridden in 4th 3 out, no impression, 6th of 14, 25 1/4l behind Cerberus (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
Instant Return (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, 2nd before 2 out, dropped to moderate 4th after 2 out, no impression, 4th of 14, 24l behind Cerberus (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Nov.
Jess's Corner (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, took keen hold, waited with, 10th early, closed from before halfway, lost place and no extra from before straight, 13th of 14, dist behind Tracing (8-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Lightsider (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) In rear, 13th before 5th where mistake, no impression after 2 out, never a factor, 10th of 14, 35 1/4l behind Sacchoandvanzetti (11-7) at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Morph (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, 8th halfway, pushed along in 5th over 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 3 3/4l behind A Few Bob Short (9-12) at Galway 1m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Sea Ducor 20-1 (9-5) Mid-division on inner, headway into 4th on inner and pushed along 2f out, led under 2f out, soon ridden, clear 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Navan 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Oct beating El Tren (10-0) by 2 3/4l, 23 ran.
Top Line Tommy (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, moderate 6th after 5th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 18, dist behind Sacchoandvanzetti (11-0) at Galway 2m mdn sft in Oct.
Weather Alert (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) A little slow into stride, waited with in rear, headway straight, kept on same pace without threatening from over 1f out, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Maria Christina (9-0) at Naas 1m 4f mdn hvy in Nov.
Wolf Prince (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Anna Bunina (9-4) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Yafordadoe (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Held up rear of mid-division, 8th travelling well halfway, progress on outer to 4th entering straight, ridden to lead under 1f out, kept on well, won at Galway 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Conversant (9-8) by 2l, 16 ran.
Cosmic Jazz (IRE) 66-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor, ridden and no impression entering straight, no threat from 2f out, 11th of 13, 10 3/4l behind Spelga (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Majority Share (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Disputed lead early, soon raced in 3rd, pushed along approaching straight, no extra final furlong, 12th of 14, 12 1/4l behind Getaway Queen (8-8) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Sean Says (IRE) 100-1 (10-1) Rear of mid-division, slightly hampered at 1st, in rear when hampered 3 out, no impression, 9th of 13, dist behind A Wave Of The Sea (10-8) at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in Oct.
Little Stone (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Slowly into stride, bumped and badly hampered at 1st, soon detached, last halfway, trailing 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 18, dist behind Sacchoandvanzetti (11-0) at Galway 2m mdn sft in Oct.
