Fakir won two of his last three over hurdles last winter but so far hasn't taken to fences. His stable companion Choungaya has had seven starts over the bigger obstacles and was in touch for a long way in the lucrative 3m Paddy Power at Leopardstown last month. He has to be respected on that form while it's time Braeside was winning over fences and his second to subsequent Grade 3 runner-up Fils D'oudairies at Navan would see him difficult to beat. ET DITE has failed to fire in two starts over fences but this longer trip should bring out the best in her and, with her 7lb allowance, she's taken to upset the likely market leader. Winning point-to-pointer Madison To Monroe is the type to improve now tacking fences.
An Marcach (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Disputed lead early, prominent, slightly slow 2nd, 2nd after 3rd, 6th when left 5th and slightly impeded 2 out, kept on without threatening run-in, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Kristian Goingwel (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hvy in Jan.
Beating The Odds (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Rear of mid-division, badly hampered at 8th, 8th 4 out, ridden in moderate 7th before 2 out, kept on without threatening, 5th of 12, 14 1/2l behind Moscowsowhat (12-0) at Tramore 2m 5f hvy in Dec.
Black Samurai 200-1 (12-0) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 6th, 6th halfway, no extra and detached 5 out, fell next, at Thurles 3m 1f sft in Dec.
Braeside (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 4 out, improved to dispute lead 3 out, ridden when slight mistake and headed 2 out, 3rd before last, went 2nd again after last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Fils D'oudairies (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Choungaya (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Soon led and disputed, headed 4th, remained close up, disputed briefly after 3 out, ridden and no extra 2 out, weakened, 13th of 22, 31 1/2l behind Castlebawn West (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Fakir (FR) 15-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 9th, 3rd 4 out, soon pushed along, 4th and no extra entering straight, weakened, 5th of 8, dist behind Escaria Ten (12-0) at Thurles 3m 1f sft in Dec.
Knockmoylan (IRE) 22-1 (12-0) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra in 3rd at last, 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 20 1/4l behind Aramax (11-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hvy in Jan.
Madison To Monroe (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along before straight, soon one pace, 5th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Koshari (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Avellino (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, 5th at last, progress after last, 3rd inside final furlong, kept on without reaching winner in 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Mister Eddman (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Et Dite (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, bad mistake and great recovery by rider 3 out, soon dropped to moderate 7th, progress again to moderate 3rd when mistake 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 17l behind Scarlet And Dove (11-9) at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Keep The Peace (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last, at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
The Cool Dude 125-1 (11-10) In touch in rear, pushed along briefly at 2nd, moderate 5th at halfway, remote 6th and ridden 4 out, weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind Pure Genius (12-0) at Punchestown 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Jan.
