chased leaders, mistake 1st, 5th halfway, dropped to rear 3 out and soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead approaching straight, pushed along after 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, no impression when left 5th next, no extra
mid-division, 4th halfway, headway after 3 out and pushed along to challenge next, ridden and no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace run-in
held up in rear, headway after 3 out and close 3rd when fell next
led, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along and headed approaching straight, left 3rd 2 out and soon no impression, no extra
towards rear, 6th halfway, closer after 3 out, left 4th and badly hampered next, pushed along and no impression approaching last, went moderate 3rd early run-in, kept on well closing stages
TEXARD (NAP) looked very progressive when landing a novices' hurdle at Cork and is making his handicap debut from what looks a winnable mark. Accidental Rebel hadn't shown much before an improved run at Leopardstown when chasing home Faugeron, who was eight lengths behind the selection at Cork. The four-year-old Bajan Excell beat subsequent winner Instant Return on heavy ground at Limerick so is an obvious threat but Polished Steel has yet to rediscover the form that saw him beat a huge field of handicappers at Punchestown in May.
Cliff House (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 3 out, edged left after 3 out, ridden and no extra approaching 2 out, weakened, 19th of 25, dist behind The Moyglass Flyer (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Pakens Rock (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders on outer, ridden before 3 out, weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Texard (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Led, joined briefly before 4th, headed approaching straight, led again 2 out and soon asserted, 5 lengths lead last, stayed on well, easily, won at Cork 2m sft in Jan beating Fauguernon (11-2) by 8 1/2l, 6 ran.
Polished Steel (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) In rear, slight mistake 7th, fell next, at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Like An Open Book (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, progress into 7th 3 out, soon ridden, under pressure in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 11l behind Something Sweet (10-1) at Thurles 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Accidental Rebel 33-1 (10-5) Soon led, joined from before last, headed from 100yds out and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 25, 1/2l behind Fauguernon (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Bajan Excell (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Always prominent, tracked leader, disputed from 2nd where not fluent, ridden after 2 out, led narrowly at last, kept on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec beating Instant Return (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Bua Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Soon tracked leaders, some slight mistakes, 6th at 3rd, hit 3 out, soon on terms, headed from 2 out, no extra straight, 9th of 23, 36 1/2l behind Dalton Highway (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
