tracked leaders, 4th approaching straight, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out
in rear, wide and effort from 2f out, no impression under pressure and kept on from over 1f out
waited with, 6th approaching straight, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong without quite getting there
keen hold and led, asserted under pressure from over 1f out, stayed on well
waited with towards rear, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out
chased leaders, 5th approaching straight, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out
tracked leader, pushed along 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
tracked leaders, 3rd approaching straight, struggling from 2f out, no extra from over 1f out
Shake The Bucket finished a couple of lengths ahead of Denny Crane when third here a fortnight ago. Another bold bid looks likely from the C and D winner while Alghanem should be thereabouts again having made a brave effort to defy a 12lb rise when runner-up at this track last time. Prince Of Fashion never looked like following up his C and D victory when fifth last month while Shukhov is upped in class after winning here last time with Silverlord four lengths behind. SALAM ALAYKUM won at Leopardstown during the summer and gets the nod as this is his easiest task since then having done as well as could be expected in a Group 3 race behind Declaration Of War over C&D in October.
King's Trail (JPN) 15-2 (9-5) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 14l behind Captain Joy (9-4) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Salam Alaykum (IRE) 66-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden entering straight, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 8l behind Declaration Of War (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Oct.
Denny Crane 11-1 (9-12) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 14, 4l behind Aladdins Cave (10-1) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Shake The Bucket (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Mid-division, 9th halfway, 7th 2f out, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on to dispute 2nd closing stages, 3rd close home, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind Aladdins Cave (10-1) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Alghanem (IRE) 9-4fav (10-7) 2nd of 14, 1l behind Asian Wing (8-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol in Dec.
Prince Of Fashion (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Soon mid-division, 7th over 2f out, no impression under pressure and kept on from 1f out, 5th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Roe Deer (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcap pol in Dec.
Shukhov (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, stayed on to lead 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Dec beating If Per Chance (9-12) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Silverlord (FR) 10-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in 8th 2f out, 5th and no impression 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 14, 4l behind Shukhov (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Dec.
Hurricane In Dubai (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, pushed along inside final 4f, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 9, 7l behind Hanoverian Baron (9-12) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Sep.
