towards rear, some headway after halfway and 7th approaching straight, no extra from 3 out, weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, 3rd and pushed along halfway, lost place 5 out and no extra towards rear approaching straight, kept on one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, slight mistake 3rd, 2nd halfway, not fluent 7th, headway to lead 3 out, ridden and drew 3 lengths clear before last, kept on well run-in
mid-division, some headway into 4th before 7th, ridden after 3 out, no impression when not fluent last, no extra
always towards rear, never a factor, in rear 7th and soon detached, weakened, well behind and pulled up after 3 out
led, slow 2nd, slight mistake 5 out, headed 3 out and soon pushed along, 3rd and ridden approaching last, no impression run-in
mid-division, dropped towards rear halfway, 7th and no impression when mistake 2 out, no extra
chased leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd approaching straight, pushed along 2 out and 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner run-in
mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along early straight and no impression before 2 out, no extra
rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, headway in 5th after 4 out, pushed along before 2 out and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace to go moderate 4th close home
Leading owner J P McManus has four entries here. Dont Kick Nor Bite has won a bumper and a hurdle in two starts on the track though returns from a long absence. Mark Walsh rides Morosini and the lightly-raced five-year-old did very well to chase home Top Moon here in November but Flaxen Flare has always looked better on quicker ground than he'll find here. The Gatechecker is better known as a chaser and can revert to hurdles on a 13lb lower mark so has to be respected, a remark that also applies to SNUGSBOROUGH HALL, another chaser on a much lower mark over timber. He improved out of all recognition in the spring and is a massive 28lb lower back over hurdles. Guard Of Honour is a very interesting recruit for Willie Mullins as he won a Southwell handicap for George Baker in October 2018 and could be well handicapped.
Campeador (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Mid-division on outer, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 13th of 15, dist behind Janidil (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Soon raced in 3rd, slight mistake 6th, tight for room on inner briefly and weakened approaching straight, 14th of 16, dist behind The Jam Man (10-2) at Navan 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Morosini (FR) 5-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led after 5 out, pecked badly next, ridden after 3 out, pressed next and soon joined, headed run-in and no extra in 2nd closing stages, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Top Moon (11-6) at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Momus (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Disputed lead early, headed 2nd, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 15, dist behind Drury (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 6f mdn sft in Nov.
Dont Kick Nor Bite (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, slow jump at 3rd, 6th at 8th, headway after 9th, 3rd after 4 out, progress to 2nd at last, ridden and no impression on winner final furlong, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Tout Est Permis (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Oct.
The Gatechecker (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, mistake 4 out, under pressure in moderate 9th and jumped left 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp sft in Dec.
Guard Of Honour (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 2 out, led before last, driven clear, comfortably, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating The Go Tou Man (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Hareth (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Towards rear for most, no impression before straight, soon no extra, 9th of 13, dist behind Scheu Time (11-6) at Cork 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Rocky's Silver (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, headway into 5th 5 out, 2nd travelling well entering straight, led and left clear 2 out, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp sft in Nov beating Guided By You (11-6) by 5 1/2l, 14 ran.
Snugsborough Hall (IRE) 11-4fav (10-1) Waited with towards rear, headway 4 out, 4th before straight and travelling smoothly, on terms from before 2 out, soon led, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in May beating Impact Factor (11-0) by 11l, 12 ran.
Oh'herewego (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Soon led and disputed at times, mistake 2 out, headed inside final 50yds and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Mister Fogpatches (10-11) at Navan 2m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
