led, took keen hold at times, not fluent at 2nd, 3rd 5 out, dropped to last and pushed along after 4 out, no impression from next, trailing from 2 out
held up in last, headway into 3rd after 4 out, travelling well 3 out, headway to lead after 2 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well run-in, comfortably
tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 5 out, led next, ridden 3 out, headed after next and soon disputed 2nd, no impression in 3rd run-in
tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 3rd, led before 8th, headed 4 out, ridden from next, disputing 2nd and no impression on winner after 2 out, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in
Snow Falcon landed a Grade 2 at Navan in February but only had two rivals to beat and hasn't run since. He would be happier with even more testing ground whereas SIMENON appears to go on anything and, though he's not beaten anything of his main rival's calibre in his two recent victories over timber, race fitness could prove crucial. Aranhill Chief is a useful staying chaser in very good form after his excellent run at Galway though he rarely runs over hurdles these days. Sadler's Risk won the Munster Handicap Chase at Limerick in October and was having his only subsequent start when a close second to Alechi Inois over fences at Punchestown in June. He's by no means making up the numbers here.
Simenon (IRE) 2-7fav (11-7) Led, almost joined 5f out, driven and headed over 2f out, soon dropped to 3rd, no extra in 4th 1 1/2f out, 4th of 9, 18 1/4l behind The Winkler (11-4) at Killarney 2m 1f Yielding in Aug.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Mainly 3rd early, disputed 2nd from 7th, challenged and slight mistake 3 out, short of room on inner and switched out before 2 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to challenge before last, narrow lead last, kept on well run-in, asserted closing stages, won at Navan 2m 5f (1) hvy in Feb beating Lieutenant Colonel (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 3 ran.
Aranhill Chief (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 9th halfway, 6th and pushed along briefly 5 out, progress into 4th before 2 out, ridden last, under pressure entering straight, stayed on final furlong to 2nd at line, 2nd of 20, 7l behind On Fiddlers Green (11-1) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Sadler's Risk (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inner, left 2nd at 10th, led and ridden 2 out, strongly pressed at last, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Alelchi Inois (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 6f gd in Jun.
