waited with towards rear, pushed along briefly from 1st and at times after, 7th after 9th, mistake 10th, not match leaders from 6 out, soon no danger
waited with, soon in rear, pushed along briefly from 6th and at times after, no danger from before 10th, completely tailed off
led and disputed, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and slight mistake last, led and stayed on best run-in
close up and disputed lead, bumped 1st, jumped slightly left at times, mistake 4 out and lost position and pushed along, no extra 3 out, bad mistake 2 out and soon pulled up
close up early, bumped 1st, soon chased leaders, slight mistake 5th and reminder, 6th after 9th, pushed along briefly from 5 out, soon pushed along again, not match leaders and mistake 2 out, no extra
reminder early, bumped with rival and slightly impeded 1st, prominent, slight mistake 7th, disputed 3rd after 9th, pushed along briefly after 12th, closed up 3 out, on terms 2 out, slight mistake last, headed and kept on same pace run-in
close up, slightly bumped with rival 1st, slightly slow 4th, slightly impeded 7th, disputed 3rd after 9th, not fluent 10th, on terms 3 out, headed from next, no impression straight in 3rd until kept on without threatening run-in
tracked leaders, slight mistake 6th, pushed along briefly from 8th and at times after, disputed 3rd after 9th, dropped to 6th and not fluent 6 out, soon no danger
Vis Ta Loi, narrowly beaten by the smart Fury Road in a Grade 2 hurdle at Limerick a year ago, was then a long way behind Run Wild Fred in a Grade 3 here and jumped poorly on his chasing debut over 2m3f here last month. The latter started off over fences with two good runs but has been well beaten on heavy ground in subsequent starts here. The Big Dog was in touch when falling in the latter of those races while Mr Hendricks found 2m4f too short at Navan and this looks his sort of trip. OPPOSITES ATTRACT (NAP) finished runner-up in that latter event and, though beaten 17 lengths, was staying on at the finish. The third won easily next time so the form looks strong enough for this. Longhouse Poet is very useful on his day and this sort of stamina test looks exactly what he needs.
Face The Odds (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 10th and dropped to 5th before 4 out, soon no extra, kept on one pace in straight, 4th of 8, dist behind Escaria Ten (12-0) at Thurles 3m 1f sft in Dec.
Great Trango (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up, 4th and slight mistake 6 out, moderate 3rd 4 out, ridden and no impression after next, kept on one pace from before 2 out, 3rd of 6, dist behind Mary Frances (11-5) at Clonmel 3m hvy in Dec.
Longhouse Poet (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders in moderate 4th, pushed along at last (usual 3 out), went moderate 3rd bypassing last, kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, dist behind Espanito Bello (12-0) at Naas 2m 3f hvy in Dec.
Mr Hendricks (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd at 5th, slight mistake 6th, pushed along in moderate 4th approaching straight, soon no impression, 4th of 12, 27 3/4l behind Conflated (12-0) at Navan 2m 4f sft in Dec.
Opposites Attract (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Waited with, slight mistake 1st and pushed along briefly and at stages after, 9th at 5th, some headway but no danger in 5th and slight mistake 2 out, 2nd and kept on without troubling clear winner closing stages, 2nd of 12, 17l behind Conflated (12-0) at Navan 2m 4f sft in Dec.
Run Wild Fred (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Pushed along briefly 2nd, chased leaders and pushed along at stages after, 5th after 6th, dropped to last from 8th, no impression and mistake 4 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Eklat De Rire (12-0) at Punchestown 3m 2f hvy in Dec.
The Big Dog (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Disputed lead early, close up and disputed at times, bad mistake and unseated rider 8th, at Punchestown 3m 2f hvy in Dec.
Vis Ta Loi (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Prominent early, waited with, slightly impeded 3rd, 7th after 4th, pushed along briefly 8th, slight mistake 10th, pushed along again from next, soon no danger, 5th of 11, dist behind Colreevy (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 4f hvy in Nov.
