led and soon disputed, led again straight, joined over 1f out, soon headed and no extra
soon tracked leaders, 4th from halfway, no extra from over 1f out
mid-division early, 7th from halfway, chased leaders and switched right over 1f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
mid-division early, 6th from halfway, kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon towards rear, no impression straight
close up and soon disputed lead, headed straight, no extra from over 1f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged and on terms over 1f out, soon led and stayed on well
mid-division early, 8th from halfway, progress to chase leaders straight, kept on well without reaching winner inside final furlong
held up, 12th from halfway, progress straight, kept on well without threatening final furlong
soon chased leaders, 5th from halfway, kept on same pace from over 1f out
held up, 11th from halfway, no extra straight
held up, 10th from halfway, effort straight, not clear run and kept on without threatening inside final furlong
soon towards rear and pushed along, never a factor
dwelt, held up, 9th from halfway, progress and slightly impeded from 2f out, kept on well without threatening final furlong
The three-year-old KEEP BELIEVING likes plenty of give as he showed when ploughing through the Roscommon mud last month and he didn't get the run of the race when attempting a double at Cork. St Brelades Bay went up a massive 10lb for his victory at the Curragh and didn't run as badly as his form figure suggests at Dundalk. Invincible Ryker had been going well on testing ground and he handled Polytrack with no problems for a convincing maiden victory at Dundalk. Hasselnott won a Gowran handicap in July but is 10lb higher and much better handicapped on the all-weather. Blairmayne ran a cracking race in a premier handicap at the Curragh and similar effort would see him in the mix.
St Brelades Bay (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Broke well and led early, tracked leaders, 5th halfway, not clear run and lost place from 2f out, rear of mid-division and switched left 1f out, eased inside final furlong, 13th of 14, 8 1/4l behind Katiymann (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Fit For Function 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out, soon no extra, weakened final furlong, last of 13, 12 3/4l behind Celebration (9-13) at Cork 7f hcp sft in Oct.
Blairmayne (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Soon chased leaders, 7th halfway, effort and bumped slightly under 1f out, kept on same pace after, 3rd of 22, 2 1/4l behind Ice Age (9-6) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Invincible Ryker (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway 2f out and ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on well to assert final 100 yards, won at Dundalk 7f mdn pol in Oct beating Curly Girl (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
Red Avenger (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Towards rear, pushed along and no impression under 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, never a factor, 9th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Katiymann (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
An Saighdiur (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along 2f out and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 13, 9 1/2l behind Celebration (9-13) at Cork 7f hcp sft in Oct.
Beach Bar (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway on outer into 2nd before halfway, pushed along early straight and no extra under 2f out, weakened, 12th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Celebration (9-13) at Cork 7f hcp sft in Oct.
Honor Oak (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, raced in rear, 10th halfway, no impression, never a factor, 9th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Hunaina (9-10) at Dundalk 7f hcp fll pol in Oct.
Hasselnott 5-1fav (9-9) Held up, rear of mid-division, ridden in 11th 2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, 3rd and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 18, 5l behind Warp Factor (9-12) at Navan 1m hcp sft in Oct.
Ecoeye 7-2fav (9-5) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, soon 4th, no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 15, 11 1/4l behind Keep Believing (9-1) at Roscommon 7f hcp hvy in Sep.
Sao Paulo (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Held up, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, 9th of 10, dist behind Espoir D'allen (10-8) at Punchestown 2m Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Fair Game (IRE) 9-2jfav (9-6) Slowly into stride and mid-division early, 5th approaching straight, closed to chase leaders straight, no extra and one pace inside final furlong, dropped to 4th on line, 4th of 10, 4 1/4l behind Truffles (9-10) at Fairyhouse 6f hcp fll hvy in Oct.
Bobby Jean (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, ridden entering straight, progress to lead over 2f out, under pressure and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Gentil J (9-4) at Cork 1m hcp fll sft in Oct.
Voyageofdiscovery (USA) 12-1 (9-8) Held up, 13th approaching halfway, progress straight, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 18, 9l behind Il Piccolo Grande (9-7) at Navan 1m hcp hvy in Oct.
Keep Believing (IRE) 4-1jfav (8-11) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, not clear run and switched left in 7th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 4th close home, 4th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Celebration (9-13) at Cork 7f hcp sft in Oct.
