close up, 3rd before straight, lost place and no impression from 2f out
chased leaders, closed from 6f out, 4th before straight, challenged in 2nd from 2f out, on terms over 1f out, narrowly headed and kept on well without quite matching winner inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, closed into 6th before straight, 5th and kept on without threatening under hands and heels from 2f out
soon led, strongly pressed 2f out, headed and dropped to 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, 8th 6f out, soon no extra
mid-division, 10th 6f out, soon no extra
soon in rear, dropped behind from halfway, completely tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along over 4f out, no impression in 7th from before straight
mid-division, 9th 6f out, soon no impression
tracked leaders, 2nd before straight, ridden in 4th from 2f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
soon tracked leaders, close 5th before straight, 3rd and challenged from 2f out, on terms under pressure over 1f out, gained narrow lead and stayed on well inside final furlong
never better than mid-division
towards rear, no danger and kept on from 6f out
Not surprisingly many of these have been in action over jumps including Archie Boy, last seen chasing home Captain Cee Bee in a Grade 3 chase at Naas in October. Lend A Hand Son likes fast ground but has generally been disappointing with just one career success from 23 starts while it's a surprise to see Jim Bolger saddling Morning Ireland, an unraced son of King's Theatre, for this. The Real Article won three bumpers and a novice hurdle on good or faster ground before finding the going too soft on his return from a long break at Limerick early this month. With Johnny Murtagh on board he'll get competitive but the vote goes to GREENBELT STAR, a dual winning bumper who was beaten a short-head by Blue Ridge Lane over 1m4f at Dundalk at the beginning of the month, his first start since October. Murindo is an improving type whose starts to date have been in very testing conditions.
Archie Boy (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Led, reduced lead before 5 out, strongly pressed straight, narrowly headed before last, no impression and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-12) at Naas 2m chs Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Greenbelt Star 2-1fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to lead narrowly under 2f out, strongly pressed and kept on well under pressure final furlong, headed on line, 2nd of 8, shd behind Blue Ridge Lane (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f 4yo stk pol.
Lend A Hand Son (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Soon tracked leaders, 4th over 3f out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from under 2f out, 5th of 11, 17l behind Swiftmarc (10-7) at Tramore 2m ladies mdn stks fm in Aug.
Lisselan Catcher (IRE) (8-11) 8th of 13, 6l behind Cloudor (9-2) at Clairefontaine(FR) 1m 6f stk gs in Aug '09.
Max Drive (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 5th 3 out, soon ridden, no extra before next, 5th of 10, 6l behind According To Him (9-13) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hdl gf in May.
Second Chance (IRE) Monashee Mountain gelding out of Chief's Princess.
The Green Olive (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Mid-division, weakened from 5f out, 13th of 15, 37l behind Captainofthefleet (9-7) at Limerick 1m 3f mdn stks sft.
The Real Article (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, closer in 3rd before straight, challenged 2 out, no extra and kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Last Instalment (11-12) at Limerick 2m 4f nh nov hdl.
Madera Drawn (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, last of 16, 45l behind Zanughan (9-0) at Navan 1m 2f mdn stks gs.
Murindo (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Disputed lead early, 2nd before halfway, ridden in close 4th on inner entering straight, kept on well final furlong, 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Captainofthefleet (9-7) at Limerick 1m 3f mdn stks sft.
Leblon (IRE) 4-1fav (9-0) Prominent, on terms before straight, headed and no extra from 2f out, 8th of 16, 7l behind Prince Chaparral (9-5) at Roscommon 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn gf in Sep '09.
Casarodana (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Raced in 5th, no impression into straight, 6th and no extra from over 2f out, 6th of 7, 28l behind Ice Empress (8-9) at Killarney 1m 3yo fll stks gf in Jul.
Ms Whatshername (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Chased leaders on inner, 5th halfway, no extra approaching straight, weakened, last of 13, 32l behind Zanoubiya (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 4f flls mdn stks pol in Oct.
Topadee (IRE) Golan filly out of Sundown.
Morning Ireland (IRE) King's Theatre gelding out of Direct Lady.
