rear of mid-division, continually denied a clear run from over 1f out, kept on one pace
soon led, pushed along 2f out and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden and no impression on outer over 1f out, no extra, kept on one pace inside final furlong
always towards rear, ridden and no impression over 1f out, no extra, kept on one pace
reared in stalls and slowly away, in rear, some headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong to go 2nd closing stages
tracked leaders, 3rd on inner halfway, ridden in 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway to lead 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, drew clear closing stages
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
Danz Gift gained his sixth course and distance victory in December but has been hit hard with a 9lb rise. Plough Boy has won three times around here in a career total of 12 victories and is just 2lb higher than his last success though he was almost 4l behind AMANAAT last time. The latter has gone up 5lb but looked to have plenty in hand and can go in again. His new stable companion Eastern Racer won six times in the UK for Brian Ellison and will be paying his way before long. View The Bay wasn't far behind the selection on his penultimate start when making her handicap debut. She'd earlier won over 7f and may just find this on the short side though she has more scope than most of these.
Amanaat (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, headway between horses in 6th over 1f out, kept on well under hands and heels inside final furlong to lead final 50 yards, comfortably, won at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Jan beating Smart Stinger (8-5) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Eastern Racer (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Led until over 2f out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 6 1/4l behind Bernardo O'Reilly (8-9) at Ffos Las 6f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Plough Boy (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along under 2f out, ridden in 4th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Amanaat (9-8) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Jan.
Verhoyen 10-1 (9-3) Waited with, soon towards rear, switched right over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 12th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Lost Treasure (9-7) at Curragh 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Captain Power (IRE) 28-1 (9-5) Towards rear, never a factor, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Dandys Gold (9-6) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Jan.
Danz Gift (IRE) 6-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway travelling well between horses under 2f out, ridden to lead over 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Dec beating Snow Patch (9-11) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ty Rock Brandy (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Mid-division, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 20 1/2l behind Turanga Leela (9-2) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
View The Bay (IRE) 11-2fav (9-1) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, headway 2f out and pushed along to challenge over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, headed 100 yards out and no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Dandys Gold (9-6) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Jan.
Hee Haw (IRE) 11-2 (8-7) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden to press leader 2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Confrontational (9-4) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Jan.
