soon tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no extra in 3rd when mistake last, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, badly hampered at 1st, no impression straight, never a factor
tracked leaders, ridden in 6th before 2 out, no extra in 5th when mistake at last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, badly hampered at 1st, slight mistake 3rd, ridden in 8th entering straight, weakened
always towards rear, slight mistake 1st, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, brought down at 1st
disputing lead when fell at 1st
mid-division, hampered at 1st, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division on inner, headway 3 out, 3rd travelling well 2 out, ridden in 2nd before last, mistake at last, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders on outer, slightly hampered at 1st, ridden in 9th after 3 out, weakened
rear of mid-division, hampered at 1st, ridden in 10th entering straight, no impression
mid-division, slight mistake 1st, headway into close 6th when checked bypassing 3 out and lost position, ridden and went 4th 2 out, no impression
made virtually all, mistake and pushed along 2 out, slight mistake at last, stayed on well under pressure run-in
rear of mid-division, mistake 2nd, under pressure 4th, weakened 5th, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, slightly hampered at 1st, no impression from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, good headway on inner into 5th when badly checked bypassing 3 out and lost position, ridden in moderate 5th 2 out, 4th at last, kept on without threatening in 3rd inside final furlong
in rear, badly hampered at 1st, some progress after 3 out, ridden in 7th 2 out, no impression
Aine O'Connor rode the winner last year and Tony Martin has won it before so At The Acorn, who won over fences here in January and is 10lb lower over hurdles, could get involved despite being a long way behind Jiving Jerry at Galway. The winner couldn't handle a 6lb rise and heavy going when beaten 13 lengths behind Make Good at Gowran. Jake Peter has a good record over hurdles and is fit from the Flat while King Alex shouldn't be inconvenienced by dropping down in trip after completing a double over 2m6f. ONE FOR JOE, narrowly beaten by Desire De Joie in a 3m Sligo maiden, can gain revenge over this shorter trip and gets a speculative vote in an open handicap. Star Max has had eleven runs over fences without winning since landing a novices' hurdle in March last year.
Star Max (GER) 8-1 (12-0) Led, soon went on, pushed along and reduced lead from 3 out, joined 2 out and mistake, soon headed and no extra, not fluent last, dropped to 4th near finish, 4th of 9, 18l behind Darver Star (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 1f Yielding in Oct.
Hardback (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Soon chased leaders, 4th from 4th, pushed along after 3 out, still in touch when bad mistake last, one pace after, 6th of 10, 12l behind Tikkanen Express (11-3) at Thurles 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Wingin A Prayer (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 4l behind Sneaky Getaway (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Call A Cab (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th from 3rd, slight mistake 4th, bumped 3 out, soon not much room, slight mistake 2 out, kept on same pace from before last, 7th of 18, 9 1/4l behind Youngnedofthehill (9-12) at Navan 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Duchess Ravenwaves 8-1 (9-13) Led, joined 4f out, led again 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, weakened, 11th of 14, 17 1/4l behind Stellify (9-2) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp hvy in Nov.
Desire De Joie (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Prominent, slightly impeded approaching 7th, 2nd after 8th, slight mistake 3 out, lost place approaching straight and pushed along, no extra before 2 out, 6th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Sassy Yet Classy (10-7) at Clonmel 3m hcp hvy in Nov.
Curious Times (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Close up, soon 3rd, disputed lead at times, slight mistake 6th, headed and slightly impeded last, one pace, 5th of 18, 5 1/2l behind Youngnedofthehill (9-12) at Navan 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Jake Peter (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden in 8th over 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 16, 5l behind De Name Escapes Me (9-2) at Naas 1m 6f hcp hvy in Nov.
Millen To One (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Led and disputed, pushed along and attempted to assert straight, headed between last 2, soon no extra and one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Jacksons Gold (11-10) at Thurles 2m 7f sft in Nov.
Morga (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and lost place after 2 out, no extra run-in, 7th of 15, 8 3/4l behind Paranoid (11-4) at Galway 2m 3f hcp sft in Oct.
Gotthenod (IRE) 12-1 (12-2) Led, headed approaching 2nd and raced in 2nd, on terms after 5 out, headed from 2 out, soon one pace, 4th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Beating The Odds (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 3f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Minx Tiara (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, close 4th 3 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders in 3rd at last, no extra, 5th of 14, 7 3/4l behind Punitive (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp hvy in Mar.
King Alex (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Soon prominent, led from 2nd, slight mistake 5th and headed, on terms approaching straight, soon led again, left with decisive advantage from last, kept on well, won at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Presenting Meghan (11-6) by 3l, 18 ran.
One For Joe (IRE) 10-3 (11-6) Towards rear, carried wide on bend before 2nd, 8th after 7th, headway on outer after 3 out, closed 2 out, 2nd before last, ridden and kept on run-in, held, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Desire De Joie (11-6) at Sligo 3m mdn Yielding in Oct.
Seeyouinvinnys (IRE) 16-1 (11-13) Mid-division, slight mistake 6th, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, weakened, tailed off, 18th of 20, dist behind Exciting Oscar (10-12) at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Jiving Jerry (IRE) 7-4fav (10-6) Held up mid-division, progress to 3rd before 5th, 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression when slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Make Good (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
Mc Alpine (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, 12th halfway, rapid progress to lead 3 out, pushed along and headed entering straight, ridden and no impression in 6th when bad mistake and left 5th last, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Dreal Deal (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
At The Acorn (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 2 out, no extra before last, 9th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Jiving Jerry (9-13) at Galway 2m hcp sft in Oct.
