settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 3f out, no impression 2 out, no extra over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
mid-division, swift progress to dispute briefly after 2f, 2nd halfway, ridden in 4th 2f out, no extra over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and progress into 4th over 1f out, stayed on to challenge closing stages, just failed at line
disputed early, headed after 1f, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 2f out, under pressure in 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
disputed early, soon chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression and kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden 2f out, stayed on into 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well to challenge 2f out, ridden to lead under 1f out, strongly pressed closing stages, just held on at line
led after 1f, disputed briefly after 2f, ridden over 1f out, headed under 1f out, no extra in 3rd closing stages, kept on same pace
always towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out
All bar the poorly handicapped Pullman Brown have won on the course and nine of them have also won over the trip here. Hes Our Music has really found his form in recent weeks, though he's held by Red Avenger on last month's run. Both are slightly out of the handicap which won't help in such a competitive event and Reckless Lad, who hasn't won for over a year, is very closely tied in to the pair of them. Captain Cullen rarely runs over a trip this far nowadays while track specialist Political Policy rarely runs over a trip this short. Captain Joy won the All-Weather Mile Championship at Linfield and ran in Group company later. He's gone up to a mark of 110 which looks too high but Johann Bach is slightly better handicapped than on Turf and he'd be a threat if ready after a break. CHESTNUT FIRE only went up 2lb for his victory here in October so it was no shock when he completed a double in impressive style last month. He's been hit with another 9lb rise but has really found his form and a hat-trick beckons.
Captain Joy (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Broke well to lead early, soon tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd after 1f, driven in 4th over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, dropped to 5th 1f out, no extra, 5th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Tribal Beat (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Johann Bach (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to challenge 2f out, ridden in 2nd when stumbled and slipped up 200 yards out, at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding in Jun.
Political Policy (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Towards rear, 7th halfway, ridden and headway to 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong to 4th, no threat, 4th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Jaqen H'ghar (8-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Chestnut Fire 11-8fav (8-12) Held up, 6th halfway, progress in 4th 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov beating Secret Wizard (8-8) by 3l, 7 ran.
Have A Nice Day 25-1 (9-8) Mid-division, 5th on outer halfway, ridden 2f out and no impression over 1f out, no extra, 10th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Sevenleft (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Aussie Valentine (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Always towards rear, no impression straight, never a factor, last of 12, 19 1/4l behind Ringside Humour (8-12) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Captain Cullen (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Held up, 12th halfway, progress on inner under 2f out and challenged 1f out, under pressure and every chance inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 14, shd behind Plough Boy (9-2) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Reckless Lad (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Mid-division, 7th 2f out, ridden and some progress in 5th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Red Avenger (9-2) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.
Red Avenger (USA) 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, travelled well and went 2nd 2f out, ridden to challenge and led 150 yards out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov beating Reckless Lad (9-7) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Hes Our Music (IRE) 5-4fav (9-7) Made all, travelled well and 2 lengths clear 2f out, ridden 1f out and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f pol in Nov beating Tetraites (9-13) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Pullman Brown (USA) 16-1 (9-8) Soon mid-division, switched left 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 9th of 22, 5 1/4l behind Vastonea (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Northern Surprise (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, never a factor, no impression in rear over 1f out, kept on one pace, 12th of 14, 4 3/4l behind Sevenleft (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
