waited with, disputed 9th approaching halfway, effort straight, kept on same pace final furlong
pushed along briefly early and mid-division, disputed 6th approaching halfway, raced towards outer straight and effort, soon one pace
pushed along briefly early, chased leaders, disputed 6th approaching halfway, pushed along again approaching straight in 8th, soon switched left and effort, kept on same pace final furlong
prominent, soon led, raced on inner straight, joined 1 1/2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace
prominent, a little keen in 2nd, effort straight, lost position and one pace final furlong
waited with, soon in rear, raced on outer straight and some headway, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
a little slow into stride, in rear, disputed 9th approaching halfway, headway and effort straight, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong
soon mid-division, disputed 6th approaching halfway, closed travelling smoothly straight, soon switched right, led over 100yds out, quickly asserted and stayed on well
waited with, disputed 9th approaching halfway, raced towards outer straight and effort, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
soon prominent, disputed 3rd approaching halfway, effort straight, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong
prominent, disputed 3rd approaching halfway, pushed along in 5th approaching straight, soon lost position and one pace
led early, prominent, disputed 3rd approaching halfway, effort straight, on terms 1 1/2f out, headed over 100yds out, one pace
War Hero won this in 2018 and, along with Settle For Bay, has scored five times on the track. Both are in good form, especially the latter who had dropped to a very lowly mark when scoring over a mile a fortnight ago. HARPOCRATES (NAP) had some very smart two-year-old form with Aidan O'Brien and last month's close second to the 111-rated Saltonstall was a superb effort. He should have plenty more to offer and gets a tentative vote in a tricky handicap. Merchant Of Venice couldn't quite get past Juyush earlier this month but the winner completed a hat-trick on Wednesday so Ado McGuinness' charge has to be a major threat. Whatharm is 4-5 on the track and is only 2lb higher than his latest success so he's another for the shortlist.
Harpocrates (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) A little keen, tracked leaders, 5th approaching halfway, headway and effort straight, switched right 1 1/2f out, edged left and challenged inside final furlong, 2nd and kept on well without matching winner close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Saltonstall (9-10) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.
Rebel Tale (USA) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden on inner 2f out and no extra over 1f out, 9th of 10, 10 1/2l behind Settle For Bay (8-12) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.
Crotchet 33-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along briefly 6f out, 5th halfway, ridden in 3rd and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, dropped to 4th final 50 yards, 4th of 14, 8l behind Ummalnar (9-4) at Dundalk 1m lst fll stks (1) pol in Nov.
Inflection Point (IRE) 4-1cfav (9-11) Soon tracked leader, dropped to 4th over 3f out, progress 1 1/2f out, ridden and closed 1f out, led briefly under 1f out, headed final 150 yards, kept on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Sendmylovetoyou (9-2) at Dundalk 6f pol in Dec.
Master Matt 4-1cfav (9-10) Soon led, edged right and strongly pressed over 1f out, soon ridden, headed under 1f out, no extra closing stages, 5th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Sendmylovetoyou (9-2) at Dundalk 6f pol in Dec.
Settle For Bay (FR) 9-2 (8-12) Rear of mid-division, switched right 2f out, ridden and headway on outer over 1f out, led 100 yards out and kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec beating Harriet's Force (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Leadership Race (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon no impression on leaders, 5th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Pulse Of Shanghai (9-2) at Dundalk 7f pol in Nov.
Whatharm (IRE) 10-3 (10-3) 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, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec beating Dark Magic (8-11) by nk, 13 ran.
Trading Point (FR) 17-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway early straight, ridden under 2f out and disputed lead over 1f out, headed 100 yards out, no extra, 4th of 10, 2l behind Settle For Bay (8-12) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.
War Hero (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Chased leader, headway on outer over 3f out, travelled well over 2f out, ridden and headway 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Sendmylovetoyou (9-2) at Dundalk 6f pol in Dec.
Merchant Of Venice 13-8fav (9-11) Chased leaders, pushed along and progress under 2f out, ridden in 2nd 1f out, strongly pressed winner inside final furlong, no extra in close 2nd last strides, 2nd of 12, hd behind Juyush (9-7) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Faakhirah (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Waited with, disputed 11th before halfway, switched left from early straight and headway, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Juyush (10-0) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.
