tracked leaders, 4th approaching straight, soon closed on inner travelling smoothly, effort and one pace 1f out
pushed along briefly early, soon disputed lead, bumped with rival approaching straight and headed, slightly impeded 1 1/2f out, soon one pace
edged slightly right away from stalls, waited with, 7th on inner approaching straight, soon headway and effort, no impression and switched right 1f out, one pace
waited with, soon in rear, headway on outer straight, slightly impeded 1 1/2f out, challenged and on terms over 1f out, gained narrow lead and stayed on best inside final furlong
dwelt, waited with, 8th approaching straight, soon headway, not much room briefly 1 1/2f out, soon one pace
soon disputed lead, pushed along into straight, headed from 2f out, no extra and slightly impeded 1f out, weakened
close up, bumped approaching straight, soon on terms, pushed along and led from 2f out and edged right, headed over 1f out, one pace
tracked leaders, disputed 5th approaching straight, soon closed behind horses, challenged and on terms over 1f out, narrowly headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong
pushed along briefly early, tracked leaders, disputed 5th approaching straight, soon tight for room and one pace
Six of this field are course and distance winners with Hodd's Girl having won her last two. She's upped in grade here from a 9lb higher mark so this is much tougher. The three-year-old Drish Venture has a similar profile and looked very progressive when landing a rated race last week but Big Gossey is probably better over 6f these days. Dandy Spirit has gone up 24lb for completing a course and distance double and could be a few pounds high and Aloysius Lilius, beaten half-a-length by him in December, should turn the tables at the revised weights. Red Cymbal is on a very long losing run and was behind both ECCLESIASTICAL (NAP) and Dandy Spirit when the latter pair were placed behind Primo Uomo last month and it's the former who is taken to gain his first success on the track.
Big Gossey (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Prominent and led after 1f, headed early straight, ridden and dropped to 4th 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 13, 5 1/4l behind War Hero (9-13) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Jan.
Dandy Spirit (IRE) 5-1 (9-13) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden under 2f out and 6th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 4th closing stages, 4th of 13, 3 1/4l behind War Hero (9-13) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Jan.
Independent Missy (IRE) 4-1cfav (9-2) Close up and ran freely early, dropped to 5th over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right and kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Sendmylovetoyou (9-2) at Dundalk 6f pol in Dec.
Ecclesiastical 14-1 (9-5) Bumped early, chased leaders, disputed 3rd approaching straight, pushed along under 2f out, effort in 2nd final furlong, kept on without reaching winner closing stages, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Primo Uomo (10-3) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Jan.
Aloysius Lilius (IRE) 10-3fav (10-6) Chased leader on inner, 4th halfway, progress 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, closed under 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Irish Acclaim (10-2) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Dec.
Windham Belle (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) A little keen, waited with towards rear, 13th approaching straight where raced on outer and some headway, kept on same pace final furlong, 11th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Prisoner's Dilemma (10-2) at Dundalk 7f pol in Dec.
Drish Venture (IRE) 2-1jfav (9-6) Disputed lead, led after 2f and made rest, ridden 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Dundalk 5f pol in Jan beating Zen Silence (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Hodd's Girl (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along and headway between horses under 2f out, ridden and led 1f out, edged right and kept on well final 100 yards, won at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Jan beating Pillar (9-9) by 1l, 14 ran.
Red Cymbal 4-1 (10-2) Chased leaders on inner, ridden in 4th 2f out, 4th 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 14, 5 1/2l behind Sabrina Fairchild (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Jan.
