Slieveardagh finished runner-up to the classy pair First Lieutenant and Bog Warrior before beating Donnas Palm at Leopardstown. He ran poorly in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and has a triple penalty to contend with. Perfect Smile, who beat Der Spieler on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse, has run badly in his last two starts including over hurdles last time. He'll need to bounce back from those efforts as ORIGINAL OPTION looks a very nice chasing prospect. Noel Meade has been waiting for better ground for the seven-year-old who has been progressing at a rate of knots and beat two higher rated rivals when winning easily over timber at Listowel in September. Regal D'Estruval has been out of form though may do better on this quicker ground.
Slieveardagh (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Always behind, 11th of 21, 33l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Imperial Shabra (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Led to 7th, led again before last, kept on well, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Edlomond (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Original Option (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Led and made most, joined from 3rd to 4th and again entering straight, hit 2 out, led before last where awkwardly jumped left, kept on best to assert run-in, won at Listowel 2m 4f nh nov hdl sft in Sep beating Bullock Harbour (11-7) by 4l, 3 ran.
Perfect Smile (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) 2nd early, dropped to 3rd at 5th, mistake 5 out and soon dropped to last, trailing from 4 out, eased straight, last of 4, dis behind So Young (11-9) at Navan 2m hdl in Jan.
Regal D'estruval (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Led, bad mistake 5 out, soon no extra, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Jack Absolute (11-0) at Cork 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Blue Vic (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Towards rear for most, no impression and kept on same pace from 5 out, 10th of 16, 45l behind Rivage D'Or (11-12) at Thurles 2m 6f beg chs gd in Oct.
Brega Queen (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Towards rear for most, never a factor, 11th of 18, well behind Bog Warrior (11-12) at Navan 2m beg chs in Nov.
