chased leaders, 3rd halfway, close up 6 out, led 3 out, strongly pressed next, headed entering straight, close 3rd last, hampered run-in, no extra and kept on same pace
held up towards rear, some headway in 10th 4 out, ridden when hampered 2 out, weakened
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 9th 3 out, left 6th 2 out, moderate 5th entering straight, no impression leaders, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 7th halfway, lost place 4 out where 11th, ridden into moderate 6th entering straight, kept on one pace
unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, 8th halfway, headway in 6th 3 out, 5th when brought down next
chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led entering straight, ridden and narrowly headed approaching last, kept on, drifted left under pressure run-in, slightly hampered closing stages
held up towards rear, late headway in moderate 7th entering straight, 5th last, kept on run-in
prominent early, soon chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
prominent, narrow lead halfway, headed 3 out, 3rd when fell 2 out
mid-division, headway in 6th 2 out, left 4th, ridden and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace
towards rear for most, no impression in moderate 9th entering straight, kept on one pace
mid-division, headway into 6th 4 out, improved to challenge entering straight, ridden to lead approaching last, jumped slightly left last, drifted left under pressure run-in, kept on well
mid-division, mistake 3rd, soon towards rear, never a factor after
chased leaders early, soon mid-division, towards rear halfway, never a factor after
soon led and disputed, close 2nd halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no extra and weakened
Arklow Ger looks on a fair mark over fences, while Deal Done was in good form at this time a year ago but the handicapper may have hold of him at present. Conem, the only C&D winner in the field, is another who is looking a few pounds high and the latter was half-a-dozen lengths behind QUESTIONS ANSWERED at Limerick's Christmas fixture. Eric McNamara's young chaser looks the type to progress through the ranks as that was only his fourth start over fences and he gets the vote. Erritt Lake is another with little experience and was tired when falling at the last over 2m6f at Punchestown last time while Diophas has performed moderately in a couple of handicaps after his maiden chase success at Killarney. Paul Cashman should soon be winning races with UK import Idarah, who has had just two runs for new connections over trips too short.
Deal Done (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, in rear when not fluent 6th, lost touch from 5 out, trailing from 3 out, 4th of 5, 15l behind Psycho (11-10) at Naas 2m 3f chs sft in Nov.
I Hear A Symphony (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Never a factor, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 17th of 19, well behind Across The Bay (9-13) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl sft.
Top Of The Rock (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Close up, 2nd to halfway, 4th 3 out, no extra from next, 6th of 10, 19l behind Askthemaster (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Dec.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders on inner, 6th halfway, progress 5 out, 2nd briefly 4 out, 6th 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure, 7th of 28, 13l behind Majestic Concorde (11-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs 0-145 hvy in Dec.
Idarah (USA) 5-1 (10-9) Prominent, 5th halfway, 3rd before 3 out, 4th 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 12l behind Askthemaster (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Dec.
Penny's Bill (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) In rear, pushed along away from fences, pulled up after 7 out, in a race won by Glantara (11-0) at Killarney 2m 6f nov chs gd in Jul, 10 ran.
Questions Answered (IRE) 9-4fav (9-11) Chased leaders, slightly slow jump 6 out, improved to be close up after 3 out, on terms before straight, headed approaching 2 out, led again and drifted left run-in, stayed on well, won at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs sft in Dec beating Carrigmartin (9-10) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Conem (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Mid-division, 8th halfway, blundered 4 out, kept on one pace in straight, 7th of 12, 18l behind Rare Bob (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft.
Erritt Lake (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mostly 3rd, ridden and outpaced 3 out, no impression from next, blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Thegreatjohnbrowne (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 6f nov chs Grd 3 (1) in Nov, 5 ran.
Arklow Ger (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Led, strongly pressed from 3 out, headed before last, 3rd early run-in, kept on same pace under pressure, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Askthemaster (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Dec.
Diophas (GER) 11-2 (10-2) Held up in touch, 7th 4 out, 6th next, kept on without threatening from 2 out, 4th of 10, 11l behind Askthemaster (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 sft in Dec.
Clew Bay Cove (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Soon mid-division, 5th before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 6th of 11, 7l behind Questions Answered (9-11) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs sft in Dec.
By The Hour (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, weakened from next, behind when slow at last, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Curragh Grey (10-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 in Dec.
Rookery Rebel (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 3rd, no impression in moderate 3rd and ridden 4 out, left moderate 2nd at last, no extra, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Just Friends (11-12) at Thurles 2m beg chase.
Paddy O Dee 12-1 (11-12) Raced in 2nd, lost touch with leader 4 out, dropped to moderate 4th after 3 out, moderate 6th when bad mistake last, 6th of 13, 26l behind Maryiver (11-4) at Tramore 2m 5f beg chs hvy in Dec.
Puddencullinan (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Led, headed after 4th, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no extra, kept on one pace, 6th of 7, 34l behind Uncle Tom Cobley (10-13) at Naas 2m nov chs sft.
