in rear, took keen hold, short of room under 2f out, and switched right, soon ridden, 8th 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, led last strides
rear of mid-division, ridden and progress from 2f out, close 4th 1f out, improved to dispute lead close home, headed last strides
mid-division, took keen hold, pushed along and progress 2f out, soon ridden, improved to dispute lead 1f out, headed and dropped to 5th last strides
mid-division, ridden in 10th 2f out, weakened
led, clear at halfway, reduced advantage and ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden in 2nd 2f out, close 5th 1f out, no extra
always behind, never a factor
mid-division, closer in 5th and pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, disputed lead 1f out, kept on under pressure, headed and dropped to 4th last strides
rear of mid-division on outer, ridden at halfway, weakened
dwelt, always towards rear, never a factor
rear of mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden, close 7th 1f out, improved to dispute lead close home, headed last strides
chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, close 6th 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, soon no impression
Whatharm is three from four around here but looked a few pounds high last time after going up 8lb for his previous victory when he had Well Suited behind. BOBBY K (NAP) had three all-weather victories in the UK before joining new connections for whom he has been improving with each run. He's been surprisingly dropped 2lb for a good run last time, when he had the favourite Imposing Supreme just behind, and gets the nod. Will Be King has gone up 3lb for finishing third in a claimer but Legal Thriller is only 2lb higher than when successful here in October. Sagittarius Rising has gained all three career victories on very testing ground and has never raced on an artificial surface.
Whatharm (IRE) 9-5fav (10-5) Mid-division, ridden in 7th 2f out, went 5th 1f out, no extra, 5th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Pulse Of Shanghai (9-8) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Bobby K (IRE) 15-2 (9-13) Rear of mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, 9th on outer 1f out, kept on without threatening leaders final furlong, 3rd near line, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Raphael (10-2) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Will Be King (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Led, 1 length clear halfway, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed 1f out, dropped to 3rd final 150 yards, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Gee Rex (9-6) at Dundalk 1m pol in Oct.
Allegio (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, 6th after 4th, lost place before 3 out, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Kilbeggan 2m mdn sft in Aug.
Point Reyes (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Rear of mid-division, no impression straight, never a factor, 11th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Pulse Of Shanghai (9-2) at Dundalk 7f pol in Nov.
Imposing Supreme (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) Prominent, ridden in 2nd 2f out, soon no impression on winner, 3rd 1f out, no extra, 4th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Raphael (10-2) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Sagittarius Rising (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Raced far side, pushed along before halfway in mid-division, soon headway and effort, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead near line, won at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in Nov beating Mogwli (9-13) by nk, 18 ran.
The Mpex Kid (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden entering straight, weakened, 11th of 12, 5 1/2l behind War Hero (10-2) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
At War (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, headway into 2nd halfway, 3rd 3 out, pushed along and not fluent next, ridden in 2nd and no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Varna Gold (11-2) at Killarney 2m 1f mdn gd in Oct.
Well Suited (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Pushed along briefly early, soon tracked leaders, disputed 3rd approaching halfway, headway and effort straight, kept on well without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Jack Berry House (9-6) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Dark Magic 50-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, never a factor, 9th of 12, 4 1/4l behind War Hero (10-2) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Legal Thriller (IRE) 4-1 (9-13) Led briefly, soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden towards outer 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Duquesa Beach (8-13) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Alhajjaj 66-1 (8-6) Close up on outer, disputed after 3f, led narrowly over 3f out, ridden and strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 8 1/4l behind Winner Takes Itall (10-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
