soon raced in 7th, headway and effort on outer straight, edged slightly left 2f out, one pace 1f out
soon raced in 5th, closed travelling smoothly straight, led 1f out, asserted inside final furlong, stayed on well, comfortably
took keen hold and held up towards rear, headway and effort straight, one pace 1f out
soon tracked leaders in 3rd, on terms inside first 3f, soon led, rider dropped whip over 1f out, soon headed and one pace
dwelt, always in rear, never a factor
loaded without rider, soon raced in 8th, still travelling smoothly behind horses into straight, effort and one pace under pressure 1f out
soon raced in 6th, effort and switched left over 1 1/2f out, kept on without troubling winner inside final furlong
disputed lead early, prominent and took keen hold, soon 4th, no extra and one pace 1f out
pushed along to be soon close up, pushed along again approaching straight, no extra and one pace 1f out
soon led, joined inside first 3f, soon headed, pushed along approaching straight, lost place and no extra from under 2f out
YUFTEN is comfortably the top-rated here having won the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot in 2016 for Roger Charlton off 101. He had no problems seeing off Hasselnot and Restless Lad in a similar race on his debut for John Feane here in November and, though the placed horses have big pulls in the weights, the positions should be confirmed. The latter is seeking his 10th course victory and has continued in excellent form while Best Not Argue, who has changed stables, has won four times on Turf but has only had one all-weather run here in 2015. That Is The Spirit was well beaten behind the selection last time but is better over this furlong shorter trip and should lead for a long way but Sharp Defence has a lot to do at the weights on his first start for new connections.
Sharp Defence (USA) 12-1 (9-12) Mid-division, pushed along 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Shore Step (9-2) at Cork 6f hcp gd in Oct.
Yuften 6-4fav (10-2) Tracked leaders on inner, 2nd halfway, headway travelling well to lead 2f out, pushed along to assert inside final furlong, stayed on well, easily, won at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov beating Hasselnott (9-6) by 4l, 12 ran.
Art Of Unity 16-1 (9-4) Raced in 10th early and took keen hold, soon raced on outer and closed up to track leaders, no extra from over 1f out, 9th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Hasselnott (9-5) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.
That Is The Spirit 10-1 (9-10) Led, pushed along early straight and soon headed, no extra over 1f out, weakened, 9th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Yuften (10-2) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.
Best Not Argue (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Waited with, soon mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, 12th approaching straight, no impression and kept on same pace from before 2 out, 8th of 18, 19 1/4l behind French Made (10-0) at Clonmel 2m mdn Yielding in Jan.
Blue Whisper 25-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, ridden and no impression under 2f out, no extra, 12th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Tyrconnell (9-1) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov.
Hasselnott 7-2 (9-11) Soon mid-division, ridden into 5th 1 1/2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Georgian Bay (9-8) at Dundalk 1m pol in Jan.
Mr Shelby (IRE) 17-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden final furlong, weakened last 100 yards, 11th of 15, 8 1/2l behind Vallarta (9-1) at Hamilton 6f hcp (6) sft in Sep.
Flojo (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Rear of mid-division, no impression 2f out, no extra, kept on one pace final furlong, never a factor, 9th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Damselfly (9-0) at Down Royal 5f mdn sft in Sep.
Fianchetto (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, 11th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Edification (10-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan.
Reckless Lad (IRE) 10-3fav (9-2) Mid-division, 6th halfway, headway early straight and ridden to lead over 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Sheisdiesel (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f pol in Feb.
