towards rear, 6th approaching straight, soon pushed along, no impression under 3f out
prominent in 2nd, closed up before straight, soon on terms, travelling smoothly 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, pressed and kept on well inside final furlong
dwelt, towards rear, last approaching straight, soon pushed along, no impression under 3f out, no extra from under 2f out
soon led, pushed along from 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on without matching winner final furlong
chased leaders, soon 5th, still travelling smoothly 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, soon no impression, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along early straight, one pace from over 1f out and dropped to 4th inside final furlong
chased leaders, soon 4th, pushed along into straight, kept on well into 3rd without threatening inside final furlong
slowly into stride and went left out of stalls, quickly behind and ran off course
Venezuela is likely to start a short-priced favourite here though it's a surprise to see him dropping back in trip after his opening run behind Eagle Spirit over a mile at Leopardstown in June. The winner didn't exactly enhance the form and the ground will be much more testing so a chance is taken on SHAMAD. Dermot Weld's colt showed up well for a long way before fading close home over a mile at the Curragh in August and could prove the better value. Pecheurs De Perles had a couple of runs at Dundalk late last year without showing too much while Vocal Response hasn't run since well beaten at Gowran in June though is the type to do much better this season.
Kingwilliamstown 80-1 (9-5) Rear, 13th halfway, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2 1/2f out, no impression, weakened 2f out, last of 14, 29 3/4l behind Spanish Tenor (9-5) at Cork 7f mdn sft in Oct.
Maximus Daia (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Mid-division best, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 8th of 13, 12 1/2l behind Beat The Bank (9-5) at Dundalk 7f mdn pol in Feb.
Mujaafy (USA) Hard Spun gelding out of Awleyaa.
Pecheurs De Perles (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Broke well to lead, under pressure and headed over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, dropped to 4th closing stages, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Noble Intention (9-5) at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Dec.
Shamad (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, closer order halfway, pushed along 2f out, one pace from 1f out, 5th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Utah (9-5) at Curragh 1m mdn gf in Aug.
Venezuela (IRE) 2-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd under 2f out and regained 2nd 150 yards out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Eagle Spirit (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn gd in Jun.
Vocal Response (IRE) 22-1 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, pushed along 2f out and no impression over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 8th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Intricately (9-0) at Gowran Park 7f mdn Yielding in Jun.
Wee Jock (IRE) Pour Moi colt out of Wee Mad Snout.
For Three (IRE) 66-1 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, 10th halfway, pushed along and no impression in rear under 2f out, last of 14, 18l behind Meetyouatthemoon (9-0) at Dundalk 6f mdn pol in Nov.
