led early, headed from 3rd, remained prominent, moderate 3rd approaching 4 out, soon no extra, tailed off
prominent, in front after 3rd, clear 7 out, overjumped and fell 4 out
soon mid-division, moderate 9th 7 out, fell 4 out
soon in rear, pulled up before 4th
slow in rear 1st, badly hampered 7th, mistake 6 out, soon no impression
raced towards outer, soon prominent, moderate 2nd 7 out, left in lead from 4 out, still in lead approaching straight, soon headed and no extra from before 2 out
not always fluent jumping, soon chased leaders, moderate 5th 7 out, left closer 4 out where hampered, 4th next, in pursuit of winner when not great 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace
prominent, struggling from 7 out, no extra and pulled up before 3 out
prominent, moderate 7th 7 out, left closer and not fluent 4 out, soon no impression under pressure
chased leaders, fell 7th
not fluent 1st, soon niggled along in mid-division, last at 9th, no extra and pulled up approaching 7 out
waited with towards rear, left closer 4 out, 6th next, disputing 3rd approaching straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
raced towards outer, chased leaders, mistake 5th, struggling from 7 out, no impression approaching 4 out
waited with in rear of mid-division, moderate 10th 7 out, left closer 4 out, 5th 3 out, went in pursuit of winner but no impression from before last, kept on
chased leaders early, struggling from 7 out, weakened and pulled up into straight
towards rear for much, never a factor, kept on from 3 out
raced towards outer, prominent from before 9th, moderate 4th approaching 4 out where left closer 3rd, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before straight, mistake 2 out
soon mid-division, moderate 8th 7 out, left closer 4 out and 2nd next, in front straight and clear 2 out, stayed on well
Ponmeoath runs in this for the fifth year in succession. He won in 2007 and 2008 and has had a couple of runs over hurdles recently so don't rule out another big effort. The versatile Fosters Cross comes here off the back of a win at Galway but was pulled up 12 months ago off a 7lb lower mark while King Ali still has plenty to prove over fences. Wellforth needs to improve again on wins at Galway and Bangor if he is to complete the hat-trick but there are possibilities about top weight Casey Top, who had Alpine Eagle, Deal Done, Campbonnais and Jamsie Hall behind when runner-up in the Galway Plate. David Pipe has sent the in-form Premier Dane over from Devon while Our Victoria holds each-way claims but Charlie Swan has been protecting START ME UP's handicap mark for a reason and he could be the value in this Grade A contest. Just beaten in a Grade 2 novice chase at Navan in February, he was an excellent fifth in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham subsequently considering his lack of experience and had probably had enough for the season when pulled up in the Irish Grand National in April. Given a pipe-opener over hurdles at Roscommon last month, he looks nicely treated here.
Casey Top (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Led, joined briefly 5th, strongly pressed from 2 out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 20, 5l behind Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug.
Whodoyouthink (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Mid-division, weakened from halfway, pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug, 20 ran.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Prominent early, soon chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to lead before 5 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon headed, regained lead entering straight, ridden and kept on well closing stages, won at Galway 2m 1f hcp chs sft beating Darenjan (10-11) by 5l, 7 ran.
Themoonandsixpence (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Mistake 1st, held up, good progress approaching 6 out, tracked leaders from before 3 out, challenged under pressure and led before straight, soon joined and headed over 1f out, kept on well without matching winner, 2nd of 22, 1/2l behind Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Jul '10.
Alpine Eagle (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Very slowly away and settled well off pace in last, poor 10th 3 out, late headway from 2 out, never nearer, 5th of 20, 18l behind Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug.
Wellforth (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Made all, left clear 2 out, unchallenged, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Aug beating Shadow Dancer (11-6) by 29l, 3 ran.
Start Me Up (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, moderate 6th halfway, ridden and no impression when left poor 4th 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 30l behind Tarla (10-7) at Roscommon 2m 4f hdl in Aug.
Campbonnais (FR) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th at 7th, gradually weakened from 5 out, 12th of 20, well behind Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug.
Deal Done (FR) 16-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, 6th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 20, 25l behind Bob Lingo (10-3) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs gd in Aug.
Premier Dane (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, pushed along to chase leaders before 7th, led after 3 out, clear before next, eased close home, won at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft beating Monetary Fund (10-8) by 6l, 11 ran.
Caduceus (IRE) 4-1fav (10-2) Mid-division, 8th halfway, 5th after 4 out, headway to challenge approaching last, led early run-in and soon asserted, kept on well, won at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 sft in May beating Miss Pepperpot (9-7) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Jamsie Hall (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up in rear, headway on outside 2 out (usual 3 out), switched inside and chased winner on long run between last 2, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Spirit Of A Nation (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Aug.
Our Victoria (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Soon chased leaders, ridden to close after 3 out, soon 2nd, 3rd before 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 21l behind Devil's Elbow (11-0) at Limerick 3m chs in Jul.
Questions Answered (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway into moderate 5th 5 out, ridden and no extra after 4 out, 9th of 15, 26l behind Bob Lingo (10-6) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Aug.
Quietly Fancied (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Soon led, headed 4th but remained prominent and occasionally disputed, 2nd after 4 out, ridden 2 out, dropped to 3rd and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Caduceus (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 sft in May.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) 4th of 15, 14l behind Cherryantor (10-0) at Roscommon 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109.
King Ali (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Settled behind leaders, moderate 4th halfway, 3rd after 8th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden to close in 2nd 3 out, no impression winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Bob Lingo (10-6) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Aug.
Faltering Fullback 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, no extra 4 out, 8th of 11, 24l behind Kalellshan (10-7) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Aug.
Save My Blushes 18-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden before straight, no extra in 4th 3 out, left 3rd next, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 13l behind Kalellshan (10-7) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Aug.
Shabra Charity (IRE) 5-1 (9-12) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden in 4th entering straight, close 4th last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 4th of 5, 3l behind Silverhand (11-2) at Galway 2m 4f hdl sft.
