settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, travelled well to challenge under 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, soon no extra
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out
led after 1f, 4-length advantage halfway, ridden and pressed 2f out, soon headed, no extra over 1f out
slowly into stride and rear, ridden to progress 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
led, headed after 1f and chased leader, ridden to lead narrowly under 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
rear of mid-division, ridden and closer on outer 2f out, under pressure in 7th over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out
held up towards rear, ridden to progress on inner 2f out, 4th over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden into 6th 2f out, stayed on into 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Nimitz has won twice over the course and distance and over 1m4f. He's been racing over the longer trip recently and is now on his highest ever mark. Dual track winner New Direction was conceding him 2lb when beaten narrowly at Navan in the summer so there's little between them on these terms. Tooreen Legend has also won three times here but the last time was over 1m4f in 2015 and he was returning from a three-year break here a couple of weeks ago. Jon Ess is another three-times course winner though he's never raced beyond 1m1f on the Flat. He's well handicapped and ran a cracking race over hurdles at Cork last time so should make a bold bid for track victory number four. MASSIF CENTRAL has been racing in much better company and wasn't beaten far in a Group 3 here in September. He's never won on Turf but has scored here and the drop in class can see him back in the winner's enclosure. Tooreen Katie looks well enough treated to go well from the bottom of the handicap.
Massif Central (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Soon led and clear, reduced advantage halfway, headed under 4f out, lost place under 3f out, ridden and weakened under 2f out, 7th of 9, 20 1/2l behind Mustajeer (9-5) at Naas 1m 4f lst stks (1) Yielding in Nov.
Tooreen Legend (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, effort straight, kept on same pace from 2f out, no extra final furlong, 8th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Commander Won (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Johann Bach (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Chased leaders when impeded early, soon dropped towards rear and 9th from halfway, pushed along from 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace from 1f out, 10th of 12, 10 1/4l behind Curly Girl (8-4) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gd in Oct.
Bid Adieu (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Led, soon a few lengths clear, reduced lead 6f out, headed over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Mr Reckless (9-5) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Nimitz (IRE) 11-4fav (9-12) Dwelt, held up in 5th, ridden in 4th 2f out, 4th 1f out, no impression, 4th of 6, 2 1/4l behind Echo Park (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Jon Ess (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division early, 8th approaching 4th, 7th after 4 out, challenged and on terms from 2 out, led before last where edged left and not fluent, headed run-in and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 24, 1/2l behind Buttons And Bows (11-0) at Cork 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Nov.
Reaver (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, ridden in 6th 3 out, no impression in moderate 4th entering straight, 4th of 10, 22 1/2l behind Sometime Soon (11-12) at Wexford 2m mdn Yielding in Oct.
Merited (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Rear, 15th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, never a factor, 15th of 16, 29 1/4l behind Warnaq (9-3) at Naas 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Nov.
New Direction (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, effort straight, soon one pace and no extra final furlong, 7th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Commander Won (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Ashqar (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outer, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, 7th of 12, 24 1/4l behind Coeur Sublime (10-12) at Down Royal 2m Good - Yielding in Nov.
Tooreen Katie (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along entering straight, ridden in 2nd 2f out and soon no impression, no extra from over 1f out, 9th of 12, 16 1/2l behind Curly (9-0) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Gymkhana 25-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden 2f out and some headway over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Theobald (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
