held up, 6th after 5th, jumped left 8th, behind 4 out, no extra from before next, tailed off
held up in rear, tended to jump a little left, fell 8th
held up towards rear, 8th after 5th, closer order but pushed along in 5th approaching straight, left 4th and no impression from 2 out, one pace
prominent, 2nd after 5th, not fluent next, lost place 4 out, no extra from before next, completely tailed off
soon chased leaders, 5th after 5th, 4th 3 out, under pressure approaching straight, left 3rd from 2 out, soon no impression, one pace
not fluent 1st, held up, 7th after 5th, pushed along from 4 out, 6th approaching straight, no danger when slightly impeded 2 out and left 5th
tracked leaders, pecked slightly 1st, 4th after 5th, not fluent next, mistake 4 out, 3rd next, chasing winner in a dispute of 2nd when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
led, not fluent 3rd, inclined to wander about before fences and jump left, joined 8th, soon headed, not fluent 3 out, no impression from next, one pace
soon tracked leaders, jumped well, 3rd after 5th, on terms 8th, soon led, clear from 2 out, stayed on well run-in
THEATRE BIRD won twice over hurdles last December including a Grade 3 at Leopardstown and looked very promising. She disappointed subsequently but bounced back against the in-form Brand Ambassador at Gowran last week and her pedigree suggests she'll be at home over fences. She's given the nod to make a winning start though Pumped Up Kicks, a dual winner between the flags and over hurdles, looks a big threat though she took a crashing fall at the first when making her chasing debut at Perth in July. Painted Lady is still a maiden and has had plenty of chances over hurdles but she's always been more likely to make a chaser and has to be on the shortlist though the main threat looks to be Ballychorus, who has finished runner-up behind two in-form rivals over timber in recent weeks.
Distracted (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division, no extra from 4 out, completely tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Talbot Road (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 4f 4yo mdn hdl sft in Dec '12.
Dream Beat 12-1 (11-2) Raced in rear, improved into 5th 7f out, ridden over 4f out, no impression from 2f out, 5th of 6, 22l behind Rathmuck Native (11-0) at Downpatrick 2m 2f NH flat gf in Sep.
Mallards In Flight (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Soon chased leaders, not fluent 8th, improved to get on terms 3 out, disputed lead into straight, soon led, stayed on well run-in, eased close home, won at Clonmel 3m hcp hdl 80-95 in May beating Shantou Shine (11-5) by 7l, 18 ran.
Maple Valley Gold (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Settled in mid-division, 6th with a circuit to race, ridden and not fluent 3 out, no impression from next and kept on same pace, 7th of 11, 31l behind Obispo (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f beg chs gf in Sep.
Pumped Up Kicks (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd from 6th, led 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Blaklion (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Spanish Boots (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Soon led, slight mistake 4th, headed and dropped to 3rd 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Padraig's Joy (11-7) at Cork 2m 4f mares mdn hdl gd in Aug.
Theatre Bird (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Led and disputed on outer, 2nd halfway, 3rd 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, disputed before last, 2nd and kept on same pace under pressure run-in, just held 2nd, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Brand Ambassador (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens30 gd.
Ballychorus (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, disputed and slight mistake 5 out, led before 2 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Hell Cat Maggie (11-8) at Listowel 2m 4f gd in Sep.
Painted Lady (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd approaching 2 out, dropped to 4th before last, no extra, 4th of 10, 14l behind Thekingofconnemara (10-10) at Gowran Park 3m hcap hdle Grd C.
