chased leader, progress after 5th, 2nd after 6th, improved to lead before 2 out, asserted before last, eased closing stages, easily
tracked leader, 4th after 7th, lost place and dropped towards rear 3 out where badly hampered, pulled up 2 out
chased leader, dropped to 7th at 8th, left 5th and hampered after 2 out, no extra run-in
chased leader, 3rd after 7th, lost place 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
soon led, headed before 2 out, dropped to 3rd and weakened before last, lost moderate 4th close home
rear, slow jump at 6th, headway before 9th, 4th after 4 out, improved to 2nd 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner before last, one paced run-in
rear, mistake at 7th, under pressure after 8th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
rear of mid-division, progress to 6th after 7th, took closer order 4 out, 5th 2 out where mistake and fell
mid-division, lost place before 3 out where fell
prominent, 5th after 7th, improved to 3rd after 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, soon under pressure in 4th, lost place before 2 out, kept on one pace to moderate 4th close home
towards rear, 12th at 9th where mistake and fell
rear of mid-division, mistake and unseated rider at 7th
rear, not fluent at 8th, headway after 3 out, 4th 2 out where slight mistake, soon edged right, no impression on leader, kept on one pace in 3rd run-in
Bryan Cooper made good use of WA WA’s stamina over 2m7f at Killarney but this should be run at a strong pace and another big run is expected. Big Debates is up 9lb for completing a double in style at Limerick though his path was made easier by the first-fence departure of the favourite. Gold Creek, who finished fifth, won over hurdles at Thurles on Thursday but the well supported Buttons And Bows appeared to have had every chance. King Alex completed a hat-trick over timber at this time last year but has so far failed to fire over fences while Bentham has still to win in nine runs over the bigger obstacles. Black Samurai is 11lb higher than when scoring at Killarney in August while Bolbec has been beaten off lower marks the last twice.
Wa Wa (IRE) 9-4fav (12-0) Chased leaders and 4th from halfway, took closer order from 6 out and went 2nd after 4 out, led next and soon went clear, easily, won at Killarney 2m 7f Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Shes Some Doll (11-7) by 6l, 9 ran.
Bentham (IRE) 16-5fav (10-13) Disputing lead when bumped rival and unseated rider at 1st, at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Castlegrange (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Mid-division, 5th after 7th, ridden and effort after 2 out, 4th at last, kept on same pace, no threat, 4th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Clarens (11-7) at Wexford 2m hcp hvy in Oct.
Black Samurai 4-1jfav (11-8) Chased leaders, slight mistake 7th, not fluent 4 out, soon 2nd, led entering straight, not fluent and headed 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd when mistake last, no extra, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind She Tops The Lot (11-8) at Tipperary 2m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
King Alex (FR) 5-4fav (11-3) Led, mistake and headed 7th, improved to lead again 3 out, soon ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to 4th 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hvy in Jan.
Big Debates (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Led, headed at 1st where not fluent and dropped to mid-division, 4th after 7th, 5th at 8th, headway to lead narrowly 2 out, ran on well run-in, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m 3f hcp sft in Oct beating Bitview Colin (10-11) by 5l, 12 ran.
Ran Rite (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Held up in touch in last, 4th from 5th, not fluent 4 out, slight mistake 3 out and pushed along, soon ridden in last, moderate 4th and not fluent 2 out, no impression, 4th of 5, 18 1/2l behind Recite A Prayer (12-0) at Tramore 2m 6f gd in Oct.
Buttons And Bows (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, dropped to 6th after 7th, lost place 3 out, hampered 2 out, one paced run-in, 6th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Big Debates (11-6) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp sft in Oct.
Bolbec (FR) 11-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, mistakes 3rd and 6th, 5th halfway, mistake 5 out, moderate 3rd 2 out, stayed on under pressure to challenge run-in, on terms final 50 yards, headed close home, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Cushinstown Finest (10-10) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp hvy in Oct.
Secret Cargo (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression after 3 out, 6th next, no extra and saddle slipped run-in, 7th of 12, 31 1/4l behind Hurricane Georgie (10-11) at Downpatrick 2m 2f Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Balkos (FR) 3-1fav (12-0) Soon led, jumped left 1st, ridden and headed after 2 out, under pressure in 4th last, kept on one pace, 5th of 16, 14 3/4l behind Different Beat (11-3) at Ballinrobe 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Gold Creek (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, disputed 3rd 3 out, pushed along in 2nd after 2 out, improved to dispute lead when left clear at last, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Thurles 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Nov beating Nell's Well (10-7) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Brandy Harbour 4-1fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway 5 out, prominent travelling well after 3 out, 3rd next, soon pushed along and dropped to 6th last, ridden and no extra run-in, 7th of 19, 25l behind Tullyhogue Fort (10-13) at Galway 2m 5f hcp gd in Sep.
