chased leaders, 7th halfway, 10th and no extra when fell 3 out
towards rear, some headway 4 out and 9th next, soon no extra
rear of mid-division on outer, in touch after 4 out, no extra and in rear when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, no threat from 4 out
settled towards rear, headway after headway and 7th 3 out, good progress to go 3rd before next, challenged last and kept on best to lead late run-in
mid-division, headway into 5th before 3 out and briefly went 2nd approaching straight, no extra from 2 out
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd entering straight, soon ridden and no impression in 3rd last, kept on one pace
mid-division when fell 5th
disputed lead until headed after 10th, no extra from 5 out and behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division on outer, 8th halfway, headway into 2nd 4 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened
always rear, hampered 5th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 4th 3 out, no extra entering straight, weakened
towards rear and reminders before halfway, some headway into 8th 3 out, went 5th 2 out, kept on one pace under pressure without troubling leaders
mid-division, pushed along in 6th 3 out and no impression in 8th early straight, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, no extra from 5 out and behind when pulled up before 3 out
rear of mid-division, some headway after 4 out and went 7th 2 out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, no threat from 5 out and weakened, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, never a factor, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, 10th halfway, no extra from 6 out and pulled up before 4 out
always prominent, disputed lead until led after 10th, driven along early straight and kept on under pressure, strongly pressed last, headed and no extra late run-in
towards rear and hampered 5th, never a factor
Race fitness and the ability to last out the trip in testing conditions will be of paramount importance and WESTERN STAR fits the bill. He's still a maiden over fences but had Dunroe Boy and Sherika behind when runner-up to Western Promise at Listowel last month and should have few problems with those rivals here. Tony Martin and Mikey O'Connor make a formidable team but Having Nightmares will need to improve on what he's shown so far so Derek O'Connor's mount Dog Barrel Hill could prove more of a threat. The rider was on both for both of his mounts point-to-point victories and he's shown some ability over timber including when scoring at Limerick in December. Triple hurdles winner Highdownhill hasn't had much experience over fences but is likely to improve now tackling them.
Count Salazar (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, lost place when blundered 17th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Salsify (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Scavenger Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Bucked shortly after start and lost ground, soon rear of mid-division, closer in 9th 3 out, soon no impression, 12th of 18, 21l behind Island Peak (10-10) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 gf in Sep.
Edmundo (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened from 5 out, 10th of 18, well behind Protaras (11-11) at Gowran Park 2m 2f beg chs gd.
Spiker The Biker (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Soon chased leaders, closer in 4th 4 out, no extra in 6th and kept on same pace from before 2 out, 6th of 17, 9l behind Warne (11-0) at Listowel 3m hts chs in Jun.
Highdownhill (NZ) 12-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear early, 10th halfway, ridden in 8th 3 out, weakened before straight and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Coole Avenue (10-4) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl hvy in Sep, 15 ran.
Sherika (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway into 7th 4 out, ridden in 4th before straight, no impression and kept on one pace from before 2 out, 4th of 17, 19l behind Western Promise (10-6) at Listowel 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Sep.
Tarquinius (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, pulled up before last, in a race won by Western Promise (10-6) at Listowel 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Sep, 17 ran.
Lusiad (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tr ldrs, 5th 1/2way, no impress 2out, 6th of 8, 9l behind Nothin To Say (10-13) at Castletown-Geoghegan 3m ire ptp hvy.
Rathmoyle House (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Settled in 6th, blundered 6th and pushed along in rear halfway, no threat from 3 out (usually 4 out), 7th of 8, well behind Barnevelder (11-4) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 sft in Sep.
The Snuffler (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Prom, 3rd 1/2way, rddn in mid div 6out, 6th 3out, wknd & pu bef last, in a race won by Tammys Hill (12-0) at Tinahely 3m ire ptp gs, 10 ran.
Clairs Choice (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 11th 5 out, no impression from next, 9th of 15, 25l behind Big Dano (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f beg chs gd in May '11.
Dog Barrel Hill (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, well off pace, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before straight, 5th of 17, 17l behind Cyprusormilan (10-11) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens16 gd in May.
Dunroe Boy (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders mainly 5th, mistake 5th, headway to lead 3 out and soon ridden to assert, driven along and headed last, no extra under pressure run-in, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Barnevelder (11-4) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 sft in Sep.
Western Star (IRE) 11-4fav (10-4) Prominent, 3rd 3 out, led briefly before next, headed 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 15, 11l behind Bruff (10-6) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-109) sft in Sep.
Torremuelle (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 5th after 3 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before next, 6th of 16, 28l behind Kilmurry Kid (10-12) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 sft.
Code Dancer (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, dropped towards rear when fell 10th, in a race won by Western Promise (10-2) at Roscommon 3m hcp chs 0-95 sft in Aug, 16 ran.
Lion Valley (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Mostly chsd ldrs in 4th until 3rd well bef 2out, no impr on 1st 2 from last, ko, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Olor (12-0) at Rathcannon 3m ire ptp gs in Sep.
Cool Warrior (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Soon towards rear, ridden into moderate 5th from 2 out, kept on without threatening, 4th of 14, 14l behind Drumlister (11-4) at Wexford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-102 gf in Jul.
Having Nightmares (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Towards rear, fell 5th, in a race won by Barnevelder (11-4) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 sft in Sep, 8 ran.
Dark Vagabond (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, disputed briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression in 3rd before 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Barnevelder (11-4) at Downpatrick 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 sft in Sep.
Optime (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden in 7th 3 out, kept on one paced, 5th of 15, 22l behind Bruff (10-6) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f cnd hcp chs (0-109) sft in Sep.
