led and soon clear, reduced advantage 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened and tailed off
tracked leaders, moderate 4th halfway, closer 4 out, 3rd 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, improved to lead approaching 2 out, ridden entering straight, challenged approaching last, kept on well under pressure run-in
tracked leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, closer 4 out, headway to 2nd 3 out, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra in 3rd entering straight, 5th and kept on one pace from before last
rear of mid-division, 7th 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace
mid-division, moderate 6th halfway, headway to 5th 3 out, 4th before 2 out, travelled well to challenged approaching last, ridden and no extra run-in, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway to 6th 3 out, 5th 2 out, ridden in 4th before last, no extra and kept on same pace
chased leader in moderate 2nd, closer 4 out, led before 3 out where mistake, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up, rear halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out
tracked leaders, moderate 5th halfway, headway to 4th 3 out, improved to 3rd before 2 out, 2nd after 2 out, ridden and no extra before last, kept on same pace in 3rd run-in
There has been a week-long plunge on Brave Inca, the winner of this race in 2006, with punters expecting a war of attrition in the predicted heavy ground. He has a solid chance as the old warrior loves a test over two miles and he's somewhere near the top of his game judging by his two placed efforts since his comeback from injury. However, SUBLIMITY beat him with something in hand on yielding ground last time and we're not so sure the heavy conditions will be enough to reverse the form. The anticipated ground may blunt his flat speed a little, but he seems to go through it well enough looking through his form and he is in such good heart we'll chance him to get away with it on this occassion. Serious opposition to the front two in the market looks thin on the ground with Muirhead and Hardy Eustace clearly the best of the rest. The former could be the biggest danger to the selection as he won the Royal Bond on heavy ground, but he has plenty to find here on December Festival Hurdle form, while Hardy Eustace has to bounce back from a rare poor effort in that race.
Allez Petit Luis (FR) 16-1 (10-3) Prominent, mistakes 3rd and 4th, moderate 3rd after 3 out, no impression under pressure from before straight, 4th and kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 15, 12l behind Nine O (9-9) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 sft in Dec.
Brave Inca (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leader in close 2nd, improved to lead after 3 out, strongly pressed from 2 out and disputed entering straight, ridden and headed before last, no extra and kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m.
Hardy Eustace (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Led, mistake 3 out, soon headed, dropped to rear 2 out and no impression after, 8th of 9, 23l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec.
Larkwing (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, fell 3 out fell 3 out in race won by Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Muirhead (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden into 5th 2 out, kept on one pace from before last, 4th of 9, 7l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec.
Sublimity (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Held up early, headway to 5th halfway, immproved to challenge in close 3rd 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec beating Won In The Dark (11-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Swiftmarc (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway in 5th 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, ridden in 2nd before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 13, 4l behind An Cathaoir Mor (10-1) at Gowran Park 2m 1f hcp hdl 81-123 hvy.
Beau Michael 11-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to 2nd 4 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, 3rd and kept on one pace from before last, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Catch Me (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hdl Grd 2 sft in Dec.
River Liane (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, mistake 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on one pace, 7th of 9, 12l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 gs in Dec.
Silent Oscar (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, led after 4 out, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, joined straight, kept on well under pressure, led near finish, won at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr '07 beating Macs Joy (11-12) by a nk, 8 ran.
