chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, mistake 2 out, weakened
towards rear, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and progress entering straight, pressed leaders before 2 out, no extra approaching 2 out and slightly hampered, weakened
mid-division, ridden and lost place 3 out, towards rear entering straight, stayed on into 6th last, kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders early, soon settled mid-division, progress into 4th 3 out, disputed before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed and ridden, no extra in 5th last, kept on one pace
held up early, chased leaders from 3rd, 4th halfway, ridden to press leaders before 2 out, no extra and edged left approaching 2 out, weakened before last
mistake 1st, soon towards rear, ridden and closer behind leaders before 2 out, under pressure in 4th last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, disputed after 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon headed, under pressure in 3rd last, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, slight mistake 4th, progress into mid-division 3 out, ridden to press leaders 2 out, 2nd and close up last, kept on without matching winner run-in
led, headed after 3 out, ridden and weakened entering straight, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and dropped towards rear entering straight, pecked 2 out, 7th last, kept on one pace
held up early, keen hold and chased leaders from 2nd, slight mistake 4 out, disputed after 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon narrow lead, kept on well under pressure run-in
Fag An Bealach appeared to need every yard of 2m3f at Downpatrick when overhauling THE ABBEY in the closing stages though won with a bit in hand. The runner-up can reverse the places over this shorter trip and gets the nod. Whatsinthecorner won over hurdles here last month and has been in very good form over fences subsequently though wouldn't want any more rain. Gold Sun has fallen in three of his last four starts and his victory at Slgo came over 2m4f while The Broom Squire produced a surprise victory at Wexford in August having shown virtually nothing previously. Tiantu looks in the grip of the handicapper after his double last month on quicker ground than he'll face here.
Tiantu (IRE) 10-3jfav (10-5) Rear of mid-division, headway into 3rd at 5th, led 4 out, ridden and joined before 2 out, headed 2 out, 2nd at last and no impression on winner, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Hopefully (10-10) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Whatsinthecorner (IRE) 9-2 (11-13) Held up towards rear, collided with rival 2nd, 8th halfway, 6th before 3 out, pushed along in 3rd 2 out, ridden before last, went 2nd at last and pressed winner early run-in, kept on one pace, no impression close home, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Steer Clear (11-8) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Fag An Bealach (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, slow and pushed along 3rd, 7th halfway, not fluent and pushed along again 7th, mistake 3 out, ridden and progress on outer 2 out, 4th early run-in, stayed on to lead final 75 yards, kept on well, won at Downpatrick 2m 3f Yielding in Oct beating The Abbey (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
The Abbey (IRE) 2-1fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 2nd travelling well after 3 out, led 2 out, pushed along when not fluent last, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, headed final 75 yards, kept on one pace, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Fag An Bealach (11-7) at Downpatrick 2m 3f Yielding in Oct.
Port Rashid (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, some headway into 2nd 3 out, no impression on easy winner when slight mistake 2 out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 31l behind Felix Desjy (12-0) at Killarney 2m 1f gd in Oct.
Gold Sun (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Held up, fell 1st, at Punchestown 2m 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Bellgrove (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) Led narrowly, jumped right at 1st, headed at 6th, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd and ridden, weakened in 4th before last, 4th of 10, 20l behind Nobody Home (11-0) at Kilbeggan 2m 4f hcp sft in Oct.
Cluan Dara (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Waited with towards rear, headway approaching 5th to track leaders, disputed 4th after 8th, slight mistake 9th, kept on same pace straight, 6th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Walkers Point (11-9) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
The Broom Squire (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Soon led, headed briefly after 6th, strongly pressed entering straight and headed after 2 out, pecked slightly last, regained lead run-in and kept on well, won at Wexford 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug beating Captain Cobajay (11-4) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
De Bennette (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place from 4 out, no impression in 9th from next and soon weakened, 11th of 14, dist behind Capture The Action (12-0) at Gowran Park 2m hcp gd in Oct.
American Image (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden in 6th 3 out, weakened, 8th of 10, 24 1/2l behind Tiantu (11-12) at Tramore 2m hcp gd in Sep.
