chased leader in 2nd, slight mistakes 6th and 4 out, pressed leader entering straight, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, switched right approaching last where slight mistake, kept on same pace run-in
held up behind leaders, 4th early, rear from before 5th, 4th again from 7th, slight mistake and ridden 3 out, soon no impression, slight mistake 2 out
made all, slight mistake 5 out, pressed entering straight, ridden to assert before last, kept on well under pressure run-in
held up in rear, slight mistakes 1st and 2nd, 4th before 5th, rear and reminder 7th, ridden and no impression 4 out
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden after 3 out, no impression before next, kept on one pace
MARKHAN went close over a shorter trip here before finding one too good on a trip over to Bangor last time. He finished a street clear of the rest on that occasion and Gordon Elliott’s charge looks the one to side with in this. Ozzie's Way had been threatening to score before a below par effort at Roscommon and looks the main danger if back to form while the unexposed Baile Liam is a likely improver back over timber and is preferred to Hollow Crest and Make Me Merry.
Markhan (USA) 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, jumped left and not fluent 2nd, went 2nd approaching 4th, closed 5th, not fluent, slightly hampered and left in lead 4 out, headed 2 out, beaten when jumped left and not fluent 2 out, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Shantaluze (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Baile Liam (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Chased leaders early, soon mid-division, dropped towards rear halfway, ridden and weakened over 5f out, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Mount Pelier (12-0) at Wexford 2m Yielding in Oct.
Ozzie's Way (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 4th next, no impression, 4th of 17, 13 1/4l behind Lord In Red (11-4) at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn gd in Oct.
Hollow Crest (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Rr of mid-div, mstk 6th, 8th 1/2way, some prog in 5th when fell 3out, at Loughrea 3m mdn gd in Oct.
Make Me Merry (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Always prominent, effort over 2f out, soon no impression and one pace, 3rd of 8, 10 1/4l behind Ballon Onabudget (12-0) at Tramore 2m gd in Oct.
