waited with, soon towards rear, slight mistake 3 out and one pace
tracked leaders, 4th at 8th, mistake 10th, soon closed up, rider briefly without iron approaching 2 out, soon no extra
waited with, 12th at 8th, pushed along approaching 5 out, soon no danger, pulled up 2 out
prominent, slight mistake 2nd, 5th at 8th, not fluent 4 out, pushed along briefly approaching straight and headway, on terms before 2 out and not fluent, soon led, stayed on well under pressure run-in
waited with, mistake 5th, 15th at 8th, mistake 6 out, not fluent 5 out, soon no danger, pulled up 2 out
waited with, soon towards rear, some headway but no impression from before 3 out, kept on same pace without threatening straight
chased leaders early, 13th at 8th, soon pushed along briefly and at stages after, one pace from before straight, jumped badly left last and no extra
waited with, 14th at 8th, headway 5 out, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra, tailed off
prominent, on terms 3rd, headed from 10th, mistake 6 out and lost position, kept on without threatening straight
soon chased leaders, 11th at 8th, under pressure approaching straight in 7th, soon no extra, mistake last, tailed off
tracked leaders, 9th at 8th, chased leaders and no impression when not fluent 2 out, one pace
mid-division early, reminder after 7th, 16th at 8th, not fluent 10th, soon no danger, pulled up before 5 out
mid-division early, 6th at 8th, one pace from before straight
soon chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, 3rd at 8th, on terms approaching 10th, soon led, slight mistake 3 out, joined before 2 out, soon headed and one pace
chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 8th at 8th, not fluent 3 out, jumped slightly right 2 out and headway, effort in 2nd and kept on without matching winner run-in
led, joined 3rd, slight mistake 5th, headed from 10th, on terms again before 2 out, soon headed and one pace
mid-division early, 7th at 8th, not fluent 4 out and under pressure, no extra next and pulled up 2 out
waited with, 10th at 8th, pushed along approaching 5 out, soon no impression, weakened and pulled up 2 out
A tremendous line-up for this hunters' event with last year's winner BILLAWAY attempting a double after an easy victory in a similar race at Down Royal. Staker Wallace, runner-up a year ago, arrives in top form having scored at Limerick though he was beaten 3 lengths by today's rival Aloneamongmillions in a Dromahane point in November. The selection's new stable companion Dragon D'Estruval, a recruit from Nicky Henderson, is another interesting entry though the shock but convincing Cheltenham Foxhunter winner It Came To Pass is warming up for another crack at the Festival where he had Billaway 10 lengths back in second. On The Sod, unbeaten in five starts including a facile success in a hunters' event at Downpatrick under Rob James, and Barry O'Neill's mount Winged Leader, give David Christie a strong hand.
Ajijic (IRE) (12-2) Mid-div, 5th from 6th, fair 6th aftr 6out, b mstk 4out, now 6th, kpt gng & completed in own time, 6th of 8, dist behind Barrowdale (12-2) at Boulta 3m sft in Dec.
Aloneamongmillions (IRE) 9-4 (12-2) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 3rd on outer halfway, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, slight mistake last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 8 1/4l behind Billaway (12-2) at Down Royal 2m 5f sft in Dec.
Arctic Skipper (IRE) (12-2) Mid-div, 5th 1/2way, mod 5th 5out, sltly clsr frm 4out, cl 5th but btn aftr 3out, left poor 3rd & pu bef last, at Curraghmore 3m sft in Oct.
Billaway (IRE) 5-4fav (12-2) Always prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, challenged when slight mistake 2 out, pushed along and led before last, kept on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 5f sft in Dec beating Winged Leader (12-2) by 6 1/2l, 10 ran.
Call It Time (IRE) 20-1 (12-2) Always towards rear, trailing halfway, pulled up before 2 out, at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan.
Dom Dolo (FR) (11-9) Chsd ldr, 3rd 1/2way, prog to 2nd bef 2out, disp at last, kow flat & asserted cl hm, won at Mainstown 3m in Dec beating Staker Wallace (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Dragon D'Estruval (FR) (12-2) Mid-div, 5th from 6th, cl 4th from 5out, 3rd aftr 4out, btn in 3rd bef 2out, fair 3rd & no ex bef last, 3rd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Macs Legend (12-2) at Kinsale 3m sft in Dec.
Er Dancer (FR) (11-11) Cl up, 3l 2nd bef 5th, disp 6out, cl 3rd from 5out, 2nd aftr 4out, chall bef 3out, no ex in 1l 2nd bef last, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Lite Duties (12-2) at Dromahane 3m Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Lite Duties (IRE) (12-2) Ld/disp, wo bef 5out, 2l adv bef 4out, chall bef 3out, 1l adv gng best bef last, so flat, v game, won at Dromahane 3m Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Er Dancer (11-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
Minella On Line (IRE) (12-2) Ld, jnd bef 2nd, drpd to 3rd bef 4out, rdn & jnd ldr aftr 3out, 4th & rdn bef str, sn no ex, ko in mod 4th, 4th of 8, 16l behind Its All Guesswork (12-2) at Knockmullen House 3m sft in Nov.
On The Sod (IRE) (12-2) Pr, drpd to 3rd aftr 7th, 3l 2nd 1/2way, qckr 10th & wo, 2l clr 4out, hdd early str, rallied to rejn when left clr last, won at Kirkistown 3m sft in Nov beating Coastal Tiep (12-2) by 5l, 7 ran.
Oscar Contender (IRE) (12-2) Chsd ldrs, disp 8l 2nd at 6th, 3l 2nd from 9th, rdn aftr 6out, mstk 5out, fair 5th bef 3out, cto 2out, 5th of 7, 23 1/2l behind Macs Legend (12-2) at Kinsale 3m sft in Dec.
Smokin' Vinnie (IRE) (12-2) Mid-div, ld from 5th, jnd bef 2out, hdd sn aftr & no impr on front pair in fair 3rd, ko flat, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Current Mood (11-11) at Mainstown 3m in Dec.
Solomn Grundy (IRE) 25-1 (12-2) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 5th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Billaway (12-2) at Down Royal 2m 5f sft in Dec.
Staker Wallace (IRE) 4-7fav (12-2) Tracked leader, on terms halfway, led 8th, travelling well before 2 out, 4 length lead last, kept on well under hands and heels run-in, reduced margin close home, not extended, won at Limerick 2m 7f mdn hvy in Dec beating Super Citizen (12-2) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Winged Leader (IRE) 20-1 (12-2) Led, headed 4th, remained prominent and led again 8th, pressed 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 10, 6 1/2l behind Billaway (12-2) at Down Royal 2m 5f sft in Dec.
Three Loud Knocks (IRE) 80-1 (12-2) Towards rear, 9th halfway, ridden and no impression in 6th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Staker Wallace (12-2) at Limerick 2m 7f mdn hvy in Dec.
From Eden (USA) (12-2) Pr, 3rd 1/2way, rdn bef 4out, wknd qckly aftr 4out twrds rr, sl mstk 3out, no ex appr str, cto, 11th of 14, dist behind Mr Mantilla (12-2) at Borris House 3m Yielding in Nov.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 11-2 (12-2) Waited with, soon towards rear, slight mistake 7th, headway 5 out to chase leaders, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort, no impression between last 2, one pace, 4th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Stand Up And Fight (12-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Templebredin (IRE) 5-4fav (12-2) Led, pressed at times, strongly pressed entering straight, ridden in lead approaching 2 out, tired before last where mistake, joined run-in, edged ahead closing stages and all out, won at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hvy in Jan beating Saint Benedict (12-2) by hd, 14 ran.
Lady Violet (IRE) (11-6) Twrds rr, 10th 1/2way, sl mstk 3out in rr & sn rdn, onepce bef 2out, sn no ex, ko, 8th of 11, 34 1/2l behind History Of Fashion (12-2) at Borris House 3m mdn Yielding in Nov.
