tracked leaders, 6th halfway, no extra after 4 out, eased
led, slight mistake 5 out, headed before 3 out, soon no extra, weakened
rear of mid-division, never a factor, slight mistake 4th, no extra from 5 out, tailed off
towards rear, some headway after 4 out and moderate 8th next, kept on one pace, never a factor
mid-division, headway approaching straight and led travelling well 2 out, ridden to assert and kept on well run-in
tracked leaders on outer, 5th halfway, closer 3 out, pushed along next and no impression in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
tracked leader, 2nd 4 out and led before next, headed 2 out and soon ridden, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
always towards rear, never a factor, no impression 4 out, no extra in straight
tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, pushed along early straight and 2nd 2 out, ridden approaching last and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division, never a factor, no threat from 4 out, kept on one pace in straight
mid-division, no impression after 5 out, 6th and slight mistake 3 out, jumped left next, no extra
mid-division, jumped left, no extra from 4 out, weakened, never a factor
in rear, detached after 3rd, jumped right 5th, never a factor, no impression when fell 2 out
always towards rear, never a factor, detached before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, mistake and unseated rider 3rd
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra early straight, mistake 2 out, weakened
Arctic Fire, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and successful in the 2017 County Hurdle, makes a belated debut over fences at the age of 10. Duc Des Genievres ran in four Grade 1 races over hurdles last season and started a short-priced favourite for his chasing debut at Naas but found the four-year-old A Plus Tard too strong in the closing stages with Ministerforsport a close third, Ex Patriot fifth and Impact Factor well beaten. He will improve for the experience though his stable companion CILAOS EMERY (NAP) looks a high-class recruit to chasing. He beat Mellon in the 2017 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown and, though not seen since running Mick Jazz close in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown in December of that year, will be ready for this. High School Days was in the lead when unseating his rider at the last at Naas though this looks a tougher race.
Arctic Fire (GER) 14-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, moderate 3rd before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 6, 15l behind Apple's Jade (11-5) at Navan 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov.
Benruben (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead under 4f out, pushed along and 3 lengths clear entering straight, ridden under 2f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, reduced advantage close home, won at Leopardstown 2m Good - Yielding in Dec beating Conflated (11-4) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Call A Cab (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistake at 1st, 7th 4 out, pushed along entering straight, no impression from 2 out, 6th of 18, 30l behind A Plus Tard (11-5) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Dec.
Charlie Stout (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, bad mistake at 1st, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 9th of 18, 22 1/4l behind Discorama (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Nov.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Prominent, on terms from 3rd, led approaching 4th, strongly pressed straight, just headed from last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Mick Jazz (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) Evensfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, improved to lead at 9th, joined entering straight, soon ridden, headed 2 out, under pressure in 2nd when not fluent at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 18, 3 1/4l behind A Plus Tard (11-5) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Dec.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake at 1st, 4th 4 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression, 5th of 18, 20l behind A Plus Tard (11-5) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Dec.
Gurteen (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders, 4th from 4th, closer order 4 out, 3rd before straight, bad mistake 3 out and soon no impression, 3rd of 11, 29l behind Tout Est Permis (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m 2f Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Impact Factor (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Prominent, led briefly 5th, pushed along and led again early straight, ridden after 2 out, reins broke and headed run-in, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Uisce Beatha (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f gd in Jan.
Indian Monsoon (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression before 3 out, mistake 2 out, no extra, 5th of 8, dist behind Campeador (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m Good - Yielding in Dec.
Ministerforsport (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, closer in 5th 4 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, 3rd at last, kept on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 18, 4l behind A Plus Tard (11-5) at Naas 2m 3f Yielding in Dec.
Paris Texas (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, jumped left 4th and 5th, closer in 4th at 6th, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, no extra in straight, 4th of 8, dist behind Campeador (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m Good - Yielding in Dec.
Play The Part (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Led briefly 1st, tracked leader, 3rd halfway, lost place before 4 out and pushed along in 7th entering straight, ridden and rallied after 2 out, kept on one pace into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Uisce Beatha (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f gd in Jan.
Shawshank (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along in 5th entering straight and no extra after 2 out, kept on one pace run-in, 6th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Uisce Beatha (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f gd in Jan.
Veinard (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Prominent and led after 1st, jumped left, headed briefly 5th, headed after 3 out, pushed along in 3rd and slight mistake last, no impression run-in, 4th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Uisce Beatha (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f gd in Jan.
High School Days (USA) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold, went 2nd at halfway, 2nd 3 out, soon left disputing lead, led and ridden 2 out, soon strongly pressed, under pressure disputing lead when bad mistake and unseated rider at last, at Naas 2m Good - Yielding in Jan.
Johnnys Girl (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along in 5th and hampered 3 out, no impression before next, no extra, 5th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Eurobot (11-8) at Cork 3m mdn sft in Jan.
