chased leader and prominent, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out
held up in mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression in 4th closing stages
always towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, no impression on outer in 8th 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
dwelt, soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out
soon led on rail, ridden and challenged 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no impression on winner final furlong and kept on same pace
chased leaders on outer and prominent, 3rd halfway, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, kept on well final furlong
soon mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out
settled mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and switched out 2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, kept on same pace into 3rd inside final furlong
chased leaders and prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 2f out, kept on under pressure, no extra inside final furlong and kept on one pace
Four-year-olds have won five of the last seven and all have carried plenty of stable confidence. Focus On Venice looks best of the pair from that age group and he's expected to be a useful sprinter this season so he's respected despite his big weight. Great MInds won this a year ago off a mark of 77 and defied a 10lb rise to land another course and distance handicap on heavy ground in May. He's up another 9lb but the soft ground is in his favour and he must be considered for a repeat though last year's runner-up DASHWOOD should have his measure. He was only beaten half-a-length and is 7lb better off so with a couple of recent runs under his belt he's taken to go one better. Captain Cullen only won once last year and is 6lb higher but In Salutem returned to action with a very good run at Dundalk and that should have put him spot-on for this.
Focus On Venice (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, dropped to 5th and no extra from 1f out, 5th of 6, 11l behind Slade Power (10-0) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) in May.
Great Minds (IRE) 4-1fav (9-4) Soon mid-division, 7th 2f out, pushed along and went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in May beating Dashwood (8-6) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
Hidden Oasis (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon no extra, 9th of 13, 12l behind Bubbly Bellini (9-5) at Cork 6f hcp in Oct.
Captain Cullen (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden in 10th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, last of 12, 14l behind In Salutem (8-9) at Navan 5f hcp sft in Oct.
Fastidious 20-1 (9-5) Dwelt and in rear, pushed along 2f out, headway into 4th and ridden 1f out, soon 2nd, stayed on well final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Almadaa (8-8) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol.
Master Speaker (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Soon chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out, last of 7, 6l behind Sir Maximilian (10-2) at Dundalk 5f lst stks 2yo (1) pol in Oct.
Bubbly Bellini (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Dwelt, held up in last, ridden in last 2f out, headway on outer into 4th 1f out, 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, never nearer, 3rd of 6, hd behind Almadaa (8-11) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Feb.
In Salutem 20-1 (9-4) Chased leaders on outer, 4th 2f out, went 2nd and ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Almadaa (8-8) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol.
Dashwood 10-1 (9-5) Held up in 5th, ridden over 2f out, 5th 1f out, no impression, 5th of 6, 7l behind Your Pal Tal (9-3) at Dundalk 5f hcap pol in Feb.
Sassaway (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Prominent early, soon chased leaders, pushed along in 5th halfway, under pressure in 6th 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Indian Landing (9-9) at Dundalk 6f hcap pol in Jan.
