held up in touch, close 5th halfway, no extra after 3 out, weakened
led, driven along and strongly pressed after 3 out, headed and dropped to 4th 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 4 out, pushed along after next, ridden and no impression before last, kept on under pressure to go moderate 2nd close home
tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th halfway, improved into 2nd and ridden to challenge 2 out, led before last, stayed on well, comfortably
soon 4th, improved into 2nd before halfway, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra under pressure run-in
held up in touch, last 3 out, no impression from next
held up in touch, 5th 3 out, lost touch before next
Solwhit has home advantage but this can go to CELESTIAL HALO who is taken to underline his Cheltenham credentials. Paul Nicholls' charge was a tad disappointing when brushed aside by Khyber Kim in the Boylesports International but wasnt' at his best that day. The track and testing ground here will play to his strengths and he can prove too strong for Solwhit, who rates the main danger. Charles Byrnes' charge should confirm his Christmas superiority over Sublimity on this testing ground. Donnas Palm has won his last three and is at the top if his game right now but he needs a career-best to shake up the two principals.
Bahrain Storm (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up behind leaders, dropped to rear 4 out, ridden and no extra before next, weakened and tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Beroni (9-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f ext hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 4-7fav (11-8) Prominent, chased leader from 3rd, led soon after 3 out, driven along after 2 out, narrow lead last and mistake headed and outpaced by winner flat, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Khyber Kim (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Donnas Palm (IRE) 4-9fav (11-8) Reluctant leader, set very slow pace, headed before 3rd, remained close up, led again after 2 out, pushed out and drew clear from last, easily, won at Navan 2m 4f hdl G2 sft in Dec beating Give It Time (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Solwhit (FR) 8-11fav (11-10) Close up in 3rd, 2nd before 2 out, led entering straight, strongly pressed after last, stayed on strongly close home, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 in Dec beating Sublimity (11-10) by 2l, 6 ran.
Sublimity (FR) 5-1 (11-10) In touch in rear, mistake 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, 2nd last, soon challenged and every chance, no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Solwhit (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 in Dec.
Won In The Dark (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led, headed 4th, remained close up until weakened approaching 2 out, trailing when eased last, last of 6, 41l behind Solwhit (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 in Dec.
Torphichen 5-1 (11-7) Chased leaders in 4th, headway in 3rd entering straight, challenged 2 out, led before last and ridden clear, comfortably, won at Naas 2m 4yo lst hdl hvy in Dec beating Arabella Boy (11-7) by 6l, 7 ran.
De Valira (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Settled 3rd, headway to 2nd 4 out, improved to challenge before 2 out where close up and disputed, ridden in close 3rd last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Ebadiyan (11-7) at Naas 2m 3f Listed hdl hvy.
