in touch, improved to track leader after 1st, 2nd halfway, travelled well 2 out, soon led, ran on well run-in, easily
led, not fluent at 2nd and 3 out (normal 4 out), headed after 2 out, dropped to 3rd last, weakened run-in
in touch, 4th halfway, lost place and weakened quickly before 2 out, completely tailed off
soon rear of mid-division, no impression in 5th 4 out (normal 5th), no extra before last where not fluent
rear, mistake and unseated rider at 4th
towards rear, no impression in 6th 4 out (normal 5th), effort in moderate 4th 2 out, kept on one pace
in touch, mid-division after 1st, 3rd halfway, progress to 2nd last, kept on run-in, no chance with winner
tracked leader, mistake and unseated rider at 1st
rear, detached 4 out (normal 5th), effort before 2 out, progress before last, kept on one pace run-in
MAC'S XPRESS might have won a handicap at Sligo in August but for falling at the last and though beaten in subsequent starts should be good enough here. Ollie La Ba Ba showed major improvement in a Cork maiden though that was over an extended 2m4f and this could prove on the short side. Upthereforthinking ran poorly over this trip at Roscommon while stablemate Jouster is likely to want much further. None of the remainder with experience have shown much so the newcomer Release The Beast, a half-brother to a winning hurdler, is one to keep an eye on.
Release The Beast (IRE) Affinisea gelding out of Miss Franklin.
Makaela's Choice (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, mistake 3 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace from next, 5th of 12, 34 1/4l behind Redstone (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn sft in Oct.
Captain Dillon (FR) 18-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pecked 5th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, dist behind Paul Marvel (11-12) at Limerick 2m mdn sft in Jan.
Jouster (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division and soon off pace, never a factor, no danger from 4 out, completely tailed off, 11th of 20, dist behind Hypotenus (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep.
The Lucky Lobster Yorgunnabelucky gelding out of Come The Dawn.
Upthereforthinking (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division and jumped left 3rd, 6th halfway, not fluent 4 out, pushed along before next, soon no extra and weakened, 9th of 12, dist behind Showman (11-7) at Roscommon 2m mdn sft in Sep.
Mac's Xpress (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Mid division, 7th halfway, went 6th after 2 out(usual 3 out), pushed along in 5th entering straight, left 3rd last (usual 2 out), kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 14l behind Atimetodream (12-0) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Ollie La Ba Ba (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Mid-division, slight mistake 5 out, progress into 5th after 4 out, closer in 3rd and slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 2nd next, no impression on leader last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Black Bamboo (11-10) at Cork 2m 4f mdn Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Safran Et Bleu (IRE) Youmzain gelding out of She's A Venture.
