dwelt slightly, soon pushed along to lead, ridden 1 1/2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
held up, 6th halfway, progress in 4th 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably
held up, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out
rear and soon niggled, pushed along halfway, ridden and stayed on under 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong into 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 2nd 2f out, no extra over 1f out
led briefly early, soon chased leader in 2nd, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression final furlong, kept on one pace
Michael Halford had several entries at the early stage and relies on Hat Alnasar, whose six career victories have all been on this track, and Chestnut Fire, who had been running well on Turf before battling to a short-head victory here last month. The latter had earlier been behind BEAU SATCHEL at Galway in July and that winner bounced back to form at Leopardstown last month, his sixth victory on Turf, and has won here in the past. He's handed the vote though Secret Wizard scored at Galway in September and ran easily his best form so far on this surface when runner-up last month so it's a surprise to find him 1lb lower. Special Focus has only won once but has finished close up in her latest starts on Turf, including behind the selection at Leopardstown, and makes her debut on an artificial surface. Strait Of Zanzibar was behind Chestnut Fire last time and Victorious Secret has never run beyond 7f.
Hat Alnasar (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Dwelt, soon chased leaders, 4th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 10th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Hurricane Cass (9-11) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Chestnut Fire 11-4fav (9-9) Rear of mid-division, 11th 3f out, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden in 3rd 1f out, improved to dispute lead inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead near line, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct beating Rezeki (9-5) by shd, 14 ran.
Beau Satchel 16-1 (8-11) Mid-division on inner, ridden in 4th 2f out, headway to dispute lead 1f out, improved to lead narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Leopardstown 1m hcp Yielding in Oct beating Jacobs Well (8-9) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Secret Wizard (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Rear of mid-division, 10th 3f out, progress into 7th and ridden 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Hurricane Cass (9-11) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Special Focus (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Rear of mid-division, 10th 3f out, progress into 5th and ridden 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on without threatening inside 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Beau Satchel (8-11) at Leopardstown 1m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Strait Of Zanzibar (USA) 10-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Chestnut Fire (9-9) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Victorious Secret (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Soon mid-division, ridden 3f out, no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Kadra (9-12) at Dundalk 7f hcp fll pol in Oct.
Bishan Bedi (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Always behind, no impression straight, never a factor, last of 13, 11 1/4l behind Hurricane Cass (9-11) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
