rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out
always towards rear, ridden and no extra over 4f out, never a factor
mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden over 3f out, no impression when not clear run and switched left 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on same pace to go 3rd closing stages, no danger to principals
always towards rear, detached in rear early, ridden and no extra over 4f out, never a factor
mid-division, 12th halfway, pushed along in 10th 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders on inner, 5th halfway, 4th 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, ridden and on terms 1f out, kept on well under pressure until headed and not match winner final 50 yards
always towards rear, pushed along before halfway, never a factor, completely tailed off
chased leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 3f out, pushed along to challenge when slightly hampered 1 1/2f out, no impression in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace under hands and heels, dropped to 4th closing stages
mid-division, pushed along early and at stages after, 10th halfway, ridden and no impression when slipped up over 4f out
mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out
led, pushed along and pressed 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, no impression in 4th when hampered on rail over 1f out, no extra
chased leaders, 8th halfway, pushed along 3f out, ridden and no impression in 5th 2f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along early, 2nd halfway, pushed along again 5f out, ridden in 3rd 4f out, soon weakened
rear of mid-division, pushed along in 11th halfway, ridden and weakened 4f out
tracked leaders on inner, pushed along at stages, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4f out, pressed leader 3f out, ridden and led 2f out, strongly pressed when edged left 1 1/2f out, soon edged right, joined 1f out, kept on well under pressure to lead again final 50 yards
Not surprisingly many of these are jumpers and bumpers and Granny Knot has won over hurdles here. Sin A Bhfuil is a winning bumper as is stable companion Merlin Giant, who ran very well over 1m4f at Listowel last month. He's held by runner-up Rekero on that form but the latter is untested over this trip. Another bumper winner, Dani Barcelona, was well behind in that latter event but dual hurdles winner Jesse Evans ran an excellent race in the Galway Hurdle in the summer. Aidan O'Brien has two entries and MALAWI (NAP) hasn't been beaten far in any of his four starts. He's a full-brother to Eastern Primrose, who won the previous race a year ago, and gets the nod to lose his maiden tag.
Ardla (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Prominent, led from 3rd, pressed after 2 out, ridden and headed before last, 4th at last, no extra, 4th of 14, 17 1/2l behind Canford Light (11-5) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn gd in Jul.
Casamari Abbey (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Towards rear and 11th from halfway, not fluent 6 out, pushed along from 3 out, no impression from next and pulled up before last, at Killarney 2m 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Duffle Coat (IRE) 3-1 (10-1) Rear of mid-division, pushed along early and at times thereafter, ridden in in moderate 8th over 2f out, went 4th 1f out, 3rd inside final furlong, 2nd close home, never nearer, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Monty's Way (9-7) at Roscommon 1m 4f mdn gd in Aug.
Granny Knot (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Disputed, pushed along and joined entering straight, headed approaching 2 out, dropped to 4th 2 out, no extra from before last, 6th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Princely Conn (12-0) at Clonmel 2m sft in Mar.
Hearts Are Trumps (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Chased clear leader, closer in 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, weakened before next, 14th of 18, dist behind Dysart Diamond (10-11) at Listowel 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Jesse Evans (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division and not fluent 1st, 9th from halfway, took closer order on outer before 2 out and soon ridden, 5th from last and kept on run-in without matching principals, 4th of 20, 2 1/4l behind Saldier (11-10) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Joyce's Lilt (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, pushed along and lost place from 5f out, ridden and no extra in 9th from over 2f out, 9th of 13, dist behind Ballycoose (11-9) at Down Royal 2m Yielding - Soft in May.
Merlin Giant (FR) 5-1 (10-0) Waited with, soon towards rear, mid-division before halfway, 7th before straight, soon effort to chase winner, kept on without quite getting there for 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 2 3/4l behind Empyrea (9-2) at Listowel 1m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Sin A Bhfuil (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, mistake next, no extra, 7th of 18, 28 1/2l behind San Salvador (12-0) at Listowel 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Sep.
Snugsborough Hall (IRE) 15-2cfav (10-10) Mid-division on outer, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 9th of 17, 15 1/2l behind Run For Oscar (11-1) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp gd in Aug.
Dani Barcelona (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Soon raced in 6th, 5th before straight, soon no extra and one pace, 7th of 15, 14 3/4l behind Empyrea (9-2) at Listowel 1m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Dashing Shirocco (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, closer approaching 3 out, pushed along before next, 3rd and mistake last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Lady Lingo (11-5) at Bellewstown 2m 4f gd in Aug.
Lord Of The Manor (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Towards rear, 10th after halfway, ridden over 3f out, progress under 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 6th of 15, 16 1/4l behind Azallya (9-2) at Cork 1m 4f mdn sft in Aug.
Malawi (IRE) 9-4 (9-7) Pushed along to lead after 1f, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, no extra 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Safecracker (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Jul.
Rekero (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Pushed along early, soon prominent and on terms inside 1st 2f, soon raced in close 2nd, stumbled slightly halfway, disputed again approaching straight, soon led, quickly joined, wandered slightly and headed under 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Empyrea (9-2) at Listowel 1m 4f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Titan Jack (IRE) (12-2) In rr, 10l last 1/2way, detd aftr 6th, bhnd when pu bef 7out, at Punchestown 3m in May.
Mollys Glory (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Waited with in mid-division, 6th 4f out, soon pushed along, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 12, 12 3/4l behind Quiet Escape (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Drop The Anchor (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Waited with, soon towards rear, badly hampered 2nd, not always fluent jumping, kept on same pace from before straight, 17th of 24, 27 1/2l behind Koshari (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
