held up towards rear, slight mistake 1st, mistake 2nd and not fluent jumping after, mistake 2 out, pushed along and no impression in moderate 4th after 2 out, went moderate 3rd run-in
disputed until headed 2nd, 3rd halfway, disputing 2nd and in touch when fell 2 out
disputed until led 2nd, pushed along and strongly pressed when mistake last, ridden after last, headed 150 yards out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, not fluent 1st and 2nd, pushed along when slightly hampered and left 3rd 2 out, soon no impression, moderate 4th run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd early, 2nd halfway, slight mistake 3 out, disputing 2nd when left 2nd 2 out, soon pushed along to challenge, ridden after last and led final 150 yards, stayed on best
Crassus chased home Duffle Coat at Punchestown and both the winner, and third Scholastic, have won subsequently so the form looks solid. The winner's yard is represented by Zanahiyr, who made very good progress on the Flat and won a 1m4f maiden at Fairyhouse in style in July. Noel Meade also runs Perry Owens, who stayed on strongly behind Little Brother here with Belgoprince running on from the rear. DARK VOYAGER started improving on the Flat in the summer, finishing runner-up at Galway before an impressive victory back there in August. He looks the type to make a nice juvenile hurdler this season.
Belgoprince (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway into 4th 4 out, mistake 3 out and slight mistake next, moderate 3rd before last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 10 3/4l behind Varna Gold (11-2) at Killarney 2m 1f mdn gd in Oct.
Crassus (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Disputed lead early, headed 2nd, 4th on inner and mistake 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd approaching last, kept on without threatening winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Duffle Coat (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 1f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Dark Voyager (IRE) 13-8fav (9-7) Mid-division on inner, good headway and travelled well over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, strongly challenged leader 1f out, led under 1f out, ridden and asserted final 100 yards, eased close home, comfortably, won at Galway 1m 4f hcp sft in Aug beating Allora Yeats (10-0) by 3l, 18 ran.
Flylikeaneagle (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression from 2f out, kept on one pace, 11th of 14, 15 1/4l behind Noble Music (10-2) at Cork 1m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Zanahiyr (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Pushed along briefly to be soon prominent, pushed along again approaching straight, challenged and on terms 1 1/2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Jul beating Ciel D'afrique (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Perry Owens (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Held up, towards rear halfway, ridden 4f out, no impression 3f out, no extra over 2f out, 10th of 12, 19 1/2l behind Father Ailbe (9-13) at Killarney 1m 6f hcp hvy in Aug.
