closed up and led and disputed, 3rd approaching 4 out, no extra and pulled up before next
chased leaders, mistake 5 out, no extra and pulled up next
waited with, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, challenged and every chance from 2 out, left with advantage and stayed on well from last
waited with, bad mistake 7 out and pulled up after
fell 1st
waited with, no impression from before 4 out, pulled up before last
waited with, progress 12th, no extra from before 4 out and pulled up before next
tracked leaders, lost place 12th, soon struggling, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, mistake 10th, no impression and kept on same pace from before 4 out
led and disputed, headed before 3 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
soon chased leaders, pushed along after five out, bad mistake 2 out, left a place better and kept on without threatening winner from last
prominent, 4th approaching 4 out, weakened approaching straight and kept on same pace
keen hold, waited with, progress from before 4 out, pecked on landing after 3 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace
soon mid-divison, no extra and pulled up before 4 out
waited with, progress 12th, niggled along 6 out, challenged and in front 2 out, pressed when ran out last
prominent, in front before 3 out, headed next, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
soon mid-division, progress and niggled along 4 out, no extra and pulled up before next
Several of these enter the fray for this nice prize in top form, none more so than BUNDLE OF FUN, who took 19 attempts to get off the mark over fences but has finally got the hang of things and has been impressive on his last two starts. He's handed the vote to complete a hat-trick though Raz De Maree looks a tough opponent. He was having just his sixth start over fences when scoring easily at Limerick and though raised 9lb there's much more to come and he has to be in the reckoning. The Bishop Looney won this marathon a year ago from a 6lb lower mark and though a long way behind Raz Du Maree at Limerick that was his first start since May. He'll be primed for action here and should get into the mix while Berties Dream has a touch of quality and though only winning once over fences there should be more to come and he can carry his big weight with distinction.
Berties Dream (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden along 3 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd again at last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Rivage D'Or (11-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f chs sft in Sep.
Cross Appeal (IRE) 5-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Raz De Maree (10-4) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct, 14 ran.
Raz De Maree (FR) 7-1 (10-4) Mid-division early, towards rear and pushed along briefly before halfway, headway into 8th 3 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, stayed on to challenge in 2nd 2 out, soon led, kept on well from before last, won at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct beating Quietly Fancied (10-5) by 7l, 14 ran.
Golden Kite (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Led, mistake 2nd, soon headed, 2nd halfway, disputed 5 out, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, no impression in 5th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 17l behind Raz De Maree (10-4) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct.
The Bishop Looney (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Pecked 1st, towards rear, headway into 6th 6 out, mistake 5 out, ridden in 9th and no impression 3 out, weakened, 7th of 14, 40l behind Raz De Maree (10-4) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct.
A New Story (IRE) (10-10) 98th of 15, 31l behind Chriseti (10-10) at Craon(FR) 3m 6f chs std in Sep.
For A Finish 20-1 (10-3) Soon chased leaders, 6th halfway, 3rd 7 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, no extra in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 12l behind Raz De Maree (10-4) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct.
Total Submission 16-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, 6th halfway, headway into 3rd and ridden 3 out, ridden in moderate 4th entering straight, went moderate 2nd 2 out, kept on without threatening winner, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Sea Of Thunder (11-0) at Clonmel 3m nov chs gf in Sep.
Droim Toll (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Soon mid-division, 10th approaching straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace without threatening, 9th of 16, 7l behind Ainama (10-5) at Roscommon 3m hcp chs gs in Jun.
Zardsky (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Prominent, 2nd for much, lost place a bit after last, 2nd again and chased winner final furlong, soon no impression, kept on, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Selection Box (10-1) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct.
Bundle Of Fun (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, improved to lead entering straight, ridden and stayed on well from 2 out, won at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs 0-130 gd in Oct beating Give Us A Hand (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 18 ran.
Give Us A Hand (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, no extra, 7th of 11, 17l behind Dactik (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-102 sft in Oct.
Bangonform (IRE) 7-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 5 out and travelled best to lead approaching 2 out, soon asserted and stretched clear before last, stayed on well, easily, won at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Oct beating Bachelor Affair (11-2) by 8l, 12 ran.
Good Luck Chuck (IRE) 13-2 (9-10) Soon close and led, clear for much, not always fluent jumping, reduced lead 2 out and headed from last, no extra from over 1f out, 6th of 8, 29l behind Selection Box (10-1) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct.
Outlaw Pete (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, 6th halfway, 4th 3 out, pushed along and no impression from next, 5th of 12, 13l behind Bangonform (10-11) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Oct.
Ardglen (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Disputed lead, headed 5th but remained prominent, ridden along in 6th approaching 2 out, soon no extra, 8th of 11, 31l behind Miss Pepperpot (11-2) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-109 in Nov '11.
Ballygill Gale (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 3 out, joined and ridden entering straight, narrowly headed close home, just failed, 2nd of 12, hd behind Away We Go (11-8) at Fairyhouse 3m hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Oct.
Tharawaat (IRE) 125-1 (10-4) Chased leadrers to 10th, behind 13th, badly hampered 21st (bechers brook), kept on from last, no impression, 8th of 40, 22l behind Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (1) gd in Apr.