pushed along early to be soon prominent, moderate 3rd approaching straight, improved to challenge under 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, all out
led, joined halfway, led again approaching straight, strongly pressed under 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace
tracked leader, took keen hold, on terms halfway, headed approaching straight, soon pushed along, no extra final furlong
waited with, soon raced in 7th, pushed along approaching straight where raced towards outer, no extra over 1f out
soon raced in 4th, headway on outer straight, edged left over 1f out, kept on well, just failed
slowly into stride, in rear, some headway straight and switched right over 1f out, one pace
soon raced in 5th, headway and effort straight, one pace final furlong
soon raced in 6th, progress straight, soon effort, one pace final furlong
dwelt, towards rear, headway and effort from over 1f out, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong
The top four are all course and distance winners as is Ragtime Red, who didn't stay 1m4f after scoring comfortably in January. It's back to the day job for Gavin Cromwell, whose Ciao took advantage of first-time blinkers to gain a comfortable success earlier this year but they didn't have the same effect next time when he was just behind Carried, who is on a long losing run. The latter looked a few pounds high last time but Rockfish, who won four times last summer including on his reappearance on this track, will be all the better for a recent run over a trip too short. MASALAI has won twice over a mile around here and wasn't beaten far in his only start over this trip. He battled on strongly to score last month and with just 4lb extra to contend with can go in again.
Ciao (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, pushed along 2f out and ridden in 3rd 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Mcguigan (8-12) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan.
Carried (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression early straight, 7th and ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Sheisdiesel (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Feb.
Alhajjaj 7-1 (8-10) Towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along and some headway between horses under 2f out, 4th and ridden over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Sheisdiesel (8-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Mar.
Rockfish (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, soon no extra, 13th of 14, 13 1/2l behind Dandys Gold (9-12) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Mar.
Waterboy (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Waited with, soon towards rear, headway from halfway, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 7th of 15, 4l behind Vocal Music (9-4) at Curragh 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Pivotal Man 33-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, pushed along and no impression early straight, ridden and no extra under 2f out, eased inside final furlong, last of 13, 20 3/4l behind Sheisdiesel (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Feb.
Alcander (FR) 4-1 (9-8) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, progress entering straight, ridden to dispute towards inner 2f out, headed under 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Drakensberg (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Mar.
Masalai (IRE) 10-3fav (9-13) Mid-division, ridden and headway on outer to go 2nd 1f out, challenged inside final furlong and kept on well to lead close home, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Feb beating Latchet (9-6) by nk, 14 ran.
Ragtime Red (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden early straight and no extra under 2f out, weakened, 13th of 14, 13 1/4l behind Alnahar (9-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Jan.
