led, 5-length advantage halfway, reduced advantage before 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon no extra and weakened
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, no extra entering straight, weakened
held up towards rear, progress in 6th after 3 out, 4th entering straight, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression last, kept on same pace
always towards rear, ridden and no impression after 3 out, weakened
held up, 7th halfway, progress in 5th after 3 out, 3rd entering straight, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner from last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 2nd 3 out, challenged entering straight, led before 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, kept on strongly, comfortably
held up, 7th halfway, progress into 5th 3 out, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 4th 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden in 5th 4 out, soon dropped towards rear, slight mistake next, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
It's almost a year since Russellstown ran and he's changed stables but there was plenty to like about his runs in maidens and doesn't look badly treated for his handicap debut. Slippery Serpent won a bumper and a maiden hurdle before failing in novice company and this looks tougher while Chateauneuf Du Pap has done better on much less testing ground. I Will Follow is an improving type though this looks on the short side but the four-year-old HIGH SCHOOL DAYS has been progressing nicely and can shrug off an 8lb rise for a comfortable victory at Gowran where she would have won more easily but for a last-flight error.
Slippery Serpent (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Took keen hold early, held up in 5th, slight mistakes 4th, 5 out and 4 out, no impression from before 2 out, soon no extra, last of 6, 20l behind Moyross (11-10) at Cork 3m Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Monotype (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) A little keen, tracked leaders, 4th early, 3rd at 8th, no extra from 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, dist behind Double Windsor (11-12) at Cork 3m mdn gd in May.
Lakemilan (IRE) 4-1jfav (10-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, led after 1st, clear after 3rd, reduced advantage after 3 out, headed and weakened approaching straight, eased before 2 out, 10th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Drakaina (9-12) at Limerick 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Russellstown (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Mid-division, 6th after 3rd, closed approaching 3 out, no impression and slightly impeded approaching last in 3rd, kept on without matching 1st 2 run-in, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind The West's Awake (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn gd in Nov.
Get Smart (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division and 5th before 5 out, dropped to rear but still close after 3 out, ridden in 5th at last and kept on into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Scotch Beg (10-12) at Downpatrick 2m 1f Soft - Heavy in Sep.
High School Days (USA) 7-1 (11-5) Mid-division early, 6th after 3rd, progress to get on terms into straight, led before 2 out, slight mistake last, stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep beating Dixie Highway (11-3) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Chateauneuf Du Pap 13-2 (11-10) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd after 6th, no impression approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Alletrix (10-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep.
I Will Follow (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 3rd, at Thurles 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Oct.
Theydon Park 7-1 (10-5) Towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 10th of 14, 25 1/2l behind Dysios (11-5) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
