led, headed 5th, 3rd halfway, pushed along 3 out, ridden in last and no extra 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders early, led 5th, ridden to assert before last where slight mistake, kept on well run-in
settled behind leaders, headway in 3rd 2 out, ridden in 2nd and no impression before last, kept on same pace
held up in rear early, headway into 3rd 5 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra and weakened, eased before last
chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 1st, ridden to challenge entering straight, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on same pace
Fully Funded beat Gift Of Dgab in a Grade 2 at Navan in November so the runner-up could give the form a boost in the opener. Noel Meade's charge didn't impress when fancied for a Grade 1 there subsequently and will need to do much better here. Ballyhaunis has won a couple of minor events in good style but will find these a different proposition even though he's likely to make further progress. HIDDEN CYCLONE lost his unbeaten record in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle here last month but was beaten by a very useful pair in First Lieutenant and Zaidpour. The fact that he gave both a fright and was beaten less than a length suggests he is well up to this. Carloswayback had been beaten a long way by Zaidpour previously and Imperial Shabra was 23 lengths behind Hidden Cyclone at Navan in November, so it could be the unexposed Si C'Etait Vrai who battles for one of the minor positions.
Fully Funded (USA) 7-4fav (11-10) Led, disputed briefly halfway, ridden and challenged 3 out, soon headed, no extra in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Oscars Well (11-10) at Navan 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Dec.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Attempted to make all, keen early, ridden and strongly pressed from 2 out, headed when slight mistake last, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 5, 1l behind First Lieutenant (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Ballyhaunis 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 2nd from 2 out, challenged from before last, led and stayed on best run-in, won at Thurles 2m hdl in Nov beating Wilde Wit Pleasure (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Carloswayback (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in last, close up last when fell 3 out, in a race won by Knockfierna (10-12) at Limerick 2m 6f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) in Dec, 5 ran.
Si C'etait Vrai (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, fell 4 out, in a race won by Gagewell Flyer (11-3) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft, 6 ran.
Imperial Shabra (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leader in close 2nd, 3rd 5 out, ridden in 4th and no extra 2 out, weakened, last of 5, 36l behind Rick (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy.
