mid-division, still well in touch when fell 4 out
led or disputed lead, strongly pressed 2 out and headed last, no extra and dropped to 3rd run-in
in rear, went 7th entering straight, headway to go 3rd before last, kept on under pressure into 2nd run-in but no real impression on winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden early straight and dropped to 5th approaching last, no extra
settled in rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, headway to go 2nd 2 out, ridden and dropped to 4th last, no extra
held up, 8th halfway, went 4th 2 out and good progress to lead last, kept on well run-in
chased leaders, 5th halfway, no impression in 8th early straight, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 6th halfway, 4th entering straight, no extra from 2 out, weakened
rear of mid-division on outer, dropped to rear halfway, weakened, completely tailed off
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 4 out and no extra entering straight, weakened, tailed off
prominent and disputed lead, no extra approaching 2 out, weakened
Knocklong is the only one of these making a handicap debut and he's also stepping up in trip for the first time. There's no doubt he's progressing nicely and isn't overburdened though this is tougher than the maiden he won at Punchestown in May. Dancing Tornado has had a busy summer though that didn't appear to bother him here last week where he ran very well behind Acriveen but Stonemaster hasn't shown much for a while and it's a long time since he was winning off a mark of 149 at Cork early last year. Queiros Bleu has run his best races at Cheltenham including when placed in a very tough handicap last weekend. With Ruby Walsh on board he's a threat to all but this can go to LEROY PARKER. Noel Meade's charge started well over hurdles at this time a year ago and has been in such good form on the Flat recently that he looks very well in back over timber.
Karabak (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Settled behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bob Lingo (10-6) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Aug, 15 ran.
Stonemaster (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden along in 13th entering straight when badly hampered, no impression, 13th of 20, 46l behind Heaney (10-4) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl gd.
Dancing Tornado (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) In rear, progress from 3 out, ridden in 4th next, 4th at last, kept on run-in to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Acriveen (9-10) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl hvy.
Star Neuville (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Led, headed 3 out, disputed again briefly entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra before last, 6th of 15, 18l behind Coole Avenue (10-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl hvy in Sep.
Queiros Bleu (FR) 22-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 3 out, went 3rd last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 23, 15l behind Bondage (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs.
Back In A Tic (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, stumbled slightly on landing at 3rd, closer in 4th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 12, 12l behind Blazing Tempo (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hdl gd in Sep.
Sweet Shock (GER) 20-1 (10-11) Close up, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened and dropped behind approaching straight, completely tailed off, last of 9, well behind Black Benny (10-13) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 in Jul.
Knocklong (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led, headed after 2nd but remained prominent, led again before 3 out, pressed in straight and kept on under pressure run-in, held on, won at Punchestown 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft in May beating To The Sky (11-7) by nk, 8 ran.
Leroy Parker (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Burrenbridge Lodge (11-5) at Listowel 2m 4yo hcp hdl hvy in Sep.
Paradis de Thaix (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Disputed lead, led 4 out, strongly pressed and headed after 2 out, soon no extra, weakened in straight, 9th of 12, 46l behind Civena (11-3) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-116 hvy.
Ballyvoile (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, dropped to 8th 4 out, ridden and no impression straight, 8th of 12, 16l behind Acriveen (9-10) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl hvy.
Chino Valdes (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, 4th 4 out, ridden in 2nd 2 out, disputed lead briefly before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Acriveen (9-10) at Naas 2m 3f hcp hdl hvy.
