tracked leaders, dropped to rear halfway, tailed off
tracked leaders in 3rd, 4th 5 out, closer 2 out where rider briefly lost iron, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in and kept on best
mid-division, 8th when hampered and brought down 4 out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, 7th approaching 4 out, soon no extra
always prominent, 2nd halfway, led briefly entering straight, dropped to 3rd before last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, closer in 3rd from 6 out, pushed along but still well in touch when fell 2 out
mid-division, 8th halfway, never a factor
always towards rear, tailed off
led, pressed and headed briefly entering straight, regained narrow lead and kept on well, strongly pressed last and headed run-in, no impression closing stages
rear of mid-division, some headway after halfway, 6th when fell 4 out
mid-division, 7th halfway, 5th approaching 4 out, no extra when left moderate 4th after 2 out
in rear, mistake 2nd, kept on one pace and some progress in straight without threatening
tracked leaders on outer, mistake 7th, 6th halfway, no extra after 4 out
Big Eared Fran is by Danehill and hardly bred for chasing but he did very well for David Pipe over hurdles winning a Grade 3 novices' handicap at Sandown and he's with the right man to teach him to jump fences. LIOS A CHOILL won a bumper and is unlucky to have won just once over hurdles. He ran poorly when last seen in May but his trainer has found a nice opportunity for him on his chasing debut and he gets the nod. Shootin The Breeze is another making his debut over fences and he can make a go of it while Crash can do much better than he showed on his chasing bow here in October and is one to keep an eye on. The Shepherd didn't get far on his chasing debut at Clonmel on Thursday but wouldn't turn out again so quickly unless connections believed he was able to do himself justice.
Big Eared Fran (IRE) 7-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 8th, soon ridden, strugglling 3 out, 13th of 22, 38l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr '09.
Crash (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Mid-division early, 5th halfway, no impression before 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 43l behind Cross Appeal (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs hvy in Oct.
Dukes Mutiny (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, no extra from 4 out, weakened, 11th of 18, well behind Magnanimity (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs in Nov '10.
Lascalahall (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, no extra from 4 out, weakened, 9th of 14, well behind Raptor (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs sft in Nov.
Lios A Choill (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, no extra from before 2 out, 19th of 24, well behind Kerb Appeal (11-8) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 88-130 gs in May.
Milan Nua (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Alw pr, ld from 4th, jnd 9th & hdd 6out, b mstk 4out, wknd aftr 4out & bhnd when pu bef 3out, in a race won by Mismak (11-9) at Inchydoney 3m ire ptp gf in May, 13 ran.
Oscar Barton (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Never a factor, 11th of 18, 46l behind Lambro (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f beg chs in Nov.
Paddysparks (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) In rear, slight mistake 5th and soon driven along on outer to chase leaders in 3rd, weakened quickly from 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Allee Garde (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f beg chs hvy, 14 ran.
Quietly Fancied (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, slight mistake 3 out and soon no impression in 7th, kept on one pace, 7th of 18, 37l behind Lambro (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f beg chs in Nov.
Shootin The Breeze (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) In touch, ridden to chase leading pair on long run to 2 out, kept on, one pace, 4th of 10, 22l behind Turtlethomas (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Talab 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, 7th of 14, well behind Raptor (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs sft in Nov.
The Shepherd (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Badly hampered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Allee Garde (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f beg chs hvy, 14 ran.
Whatever Jacksays (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Towards rear, no danger from 4 out until kept on without threatening from before straight, 5th of 19, 33l behind Buck Breeze (11-3) at Gowran Park 2m hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Nov.
Miss Brownstown (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Fell 1st (fell 2nd while loose), in a race won by Allee Garde (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f beg chs hvy, 14 ran.
