close up, no extra under pressure from over 1f out
tracked leaders, no extra under pressure from over 1f out
mid-division, no impression and kept on from over 1f out
mid-division, no impression and kept on from over 1f out
prominent on far side, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon led, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, held on near finish
prominent on far side, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
mid-division, ridden before halfway, soon no impression
mid-division, no impression and kept on from over 1f out
mid-division, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, just held
tracked leaders, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
tracked leaders, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
mid-division, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
always prominent, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out
slowly into stride, always towards rear
mid-division, no impression from under 2f out
mid-division, no extra from over 1f out
never better than mid-division
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, no impression well inside final furlong and kept on same pace close home
mid-division, no extra from over 1f out
mid-division, no impression and kept on from over 1f out
never better than mid-division
chased leaders, no extra from over 1f out
prominent on far side, rejoined main group from 2f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
mid-division, kept on same pace from under 2f out
prominent on far side, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out
soon mid-division, no impression from under 2f out
Mick Halford has won three of the last six runnings of this handicap and his IBELIEVEINMIRACLES gets a very tentative nod in a 30 runner affair ahead of Johnstown Lad and Polar Explorer. The selection was third in his latest start at Gowran Park when looking in need of the run. That was his second run of the year and should have put him spot on for this race. Johnstown Lad has been on the down grade in recent seasons but his form of late has been pretty consistent. He is a horse hard to catch right but the fact he was rated far higher in the past he has to be of interest here. Charles O'Brien is one of the shrewdest trainers on the emerald isle and he sends Polar Explorer out in the colours of J.P McManus. The son of Pivotal won his latest start very nicely and seemed to really enjoy the genuine good ground. He will get that again and as long as it doesn't dry out too much he should be fine. Others to note are Ruby Tuesday, Here Now And Why and Lough Mist but in a huge field the tentative vote goes to the Halford horse.
An Tadh (IRE) 4-1fav (8-9) Prominent, led after 2f, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Cosmic Breeze (7-11) at Navan 5f hcp 60-100 gf.
Dametime (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no real progress, 9th of 15, 11l behind Medicean Man (8-12) at Ascot 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Richelieu 25-1 (9-6) Never better than mid-division, 20th of 30, 9l behind Musical Rain (8-1) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-80.
Zhukhov (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Soon mid-division, kept on without threatening from over 1f out, 10th of 30, 3l behind Musical Rain (8-1) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-80.
Flash McGahon (IRE) 15-2 (9-9) Slowly into stride, held up on outside, ridden, hung left and effort well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 9l behind Total Impact (9-5) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Jan.
Johnstown Lad (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, 4th 1f out, checked and no extra in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 18, 2 3/4l behind Empirico (9-4) at Tipperary 5f Handicap (47-75) (3yo+) gf.
Lough Mist (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Led and disputed on stands' side, led from 2f out, soon ridden clear, drifted right inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Navan 6f hcp 47-70 gf in Apr beating Cosmic Breeze (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 22 ran.
Qadar (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Led and disputed, headed after 2f, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th and no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 11, 7l behind Cosmic Breeze (7-11) at Navan 5f hcp 60-100 gf.
King's Bastion (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, 7th under pressure 1f out, soon no impression and kept on, 6th of 30, 2l behind Musical Rain (8-1) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-80.
Grigorovitch (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Dwelt slightly, always towards rear, weakened 1 1/2f out, last of 14, 14l behind Tornadodancer (9-0) at Dundalk 6f 3yo stks pol in Nov.
Dash Back (USA) 14-1 (8-3) Mid-division, 6th halfway, headway in 4th 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Always Be True (9-7) at Gowran Park 7f flls hcp 60-100 gf.
Dunne Grand (USA) 9-2fav (9-8) Held up, progress on outer under 2f out, 5th over 1f out, kept on closing stages, 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Qeyaada (9-13) at Dundalk 5f hcp 50-80 pol in Oct.
Enigma Code (UAE) 8-1 (9-4) Broke well, settled in moderate 2nd, headway approaching straight, led 2f out, soon ridden clear, kept on well inside final furlong to hold late challenge, won at Dundalk 7f hcp 50-70 pol beating Inwood (9-8) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
He's Got Rhythm (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Soon mid-division, kept on without threatening from over 1f out, 9th of 30, 2 3/4l behind Musical Rain (8-1) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-80.
Miss Velocity 4-1fav (9-9) Soon led, ridden and strongly pressed from under 2f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, edged left 100 yards from finish, all out, won at Dundalk 6f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol beating Sassaway (8-12) by hd, 14 ran.
Timeless Whisper (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Never a factor, 10th of 15, 5l behind Partner (8-1) at Naas 6f hcp 60-95 gd in Apr.
Oversighted (GER) 7-1 (9-10) Soon led and clear, reduced advantage approaching straight, headed 2f out, soon no extra, 7th of 14, 8l behind Enigma Code (9-4) at Dundalk 7f hcp 50-70 pol.
Here Now And Why (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, 6th before halfway, soon no impression, 25th of 30, 12l behind Musical Rain (8-1) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-80.
Capacity (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Prominent early, weakened after halfway, 14th of 15, 20l behind Bewitched (9-1) at Naas 6f 3yo ext hcp gd.
Collingwood (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Mid-division, 9th after halfway, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 8th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Sixteen Forty Two (9-6) at Listowel 7f hcp 50-80 gd in Sep.
Ruby Suesday 7-1 (9-5) Led and disputed, headed narrowly halfway, soon ridden, led narrowly under 1f out, kept on well, won at Cork 5f 3yo hcp 47-70 gf in Apr beating As You Like It (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Teilionn 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division on inner, ridden in 11th 2f out, kept on one paced, 7th of 22, 9l behind Lough Mist (9-3) at Navan 6f hcp 47-70 gf in Apr.
Kinglachy (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Prominent, 2nd halfway, weakened early straight, 9th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Miss Velocity (9-9) at Dundalk 6f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol.
Footprint (IRE) 4-1fav (9-4) Held up, raced keenly, badly hampered over 2f out, eased, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Miss Velocity (9-9) at Dundalk 6f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol.
Cloud Fire (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Mid-division, 7th halfway, kept on same pace under pressure from under 2f out, 7th of 15, 5l behind Desert Romance (9-10) at Killarney 1m hcp 50-75 gd.
Desert Ben (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 22, 10l behind Lough Mist (9-3) at Navan 6f hcp 47-70 gf in Apr.
Solent Ridge (IRE) 9-2fav (9-12) Mid-division, 8th and ridden straight, no impression from 1 1/2f out, 8th of 14, 9l behind Enigma Code (9-4) at Dundalk 7f hcp 50-70 pol.
Ibelieveinmiracles (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Settled in rear, last before halfway, 13th on outer entering straight, ridden from 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening, 3rd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Great Realief (8-4) at Gowran Park 7f 3yo hcp 47-65 gf.
Scopey 10-1 (9-10) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 15, 9l behind Lady Montague (9-10) at Naas 7f app hcp 47-60 gd.
Polar Explorer (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, switched left and headway under 2f out, led under 1f out, ran on well, won at Tipperary 5f App hcp in Apr beating Faynita (9-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
