in rear, pushed along on outer 2f out, ridden in 10th 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, 3rd close home, never nearer
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, 2nd 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, strongly pressed winner to line
rear of mid-division, ridden 2f out, 11th 1f out, no impression
always towards rear, never a factor
slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor
chased leaders on inner, ridden in 6th 2f out, no impression
towards rear, no impression from 2f out, some modest late progress
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, close 4th 1f out, no extra final furlong
always towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, ridden entering straight, 7th 2f out, no impression
mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along in 5th 2f out, soon ridden, progress to lead under 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, all out close home
Aloysius Lilius looked on the way back to form last time but a wide draw tempers enthusiasm. Fridtjof Nansen is 1-28 on Turf but has only had three starts here and finished runner-up in two of them including an excellent run earlier this month when just failing to hold off Whatarm. SHAWAF has improved markedly in recent weeks, following a head defeat over 7f with an all-the-way success over this trip next time. He's only been raised 2lb and can go in again. Bluepower ran very well at Navan in September and started favourite when making his debut here two weeks ago. He showed very good speed over that 5f and shouldn't be inconvenienced by the extra furlong.
Tommy Taylor (USA) 16-1 (9-11) Slowly into stride, raced in rear, ridden 1 1/2f out, progress 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 7th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Bucky Larson (9-12) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Illetas (IRE) 15-2 (9-10) Disputed lead, ridden and edged left 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, weakened, 6th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Inflection Point (10-0) at Navan 5f hcp sft in Oct.
Kuwait Direction (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Broke well to lead, 2 lengths clear after 2f, ridden 2f out, reduced advantage 1f out, strongly pressed final 100 yards, kept on under pressure, all out, held on, won at Dundalk 5f mdn pol in Nov beating Ola Bonita (9-2) by shd, 11 ran.
Stanhope 22-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden on outer 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Mrs Bouquet (9-12) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Nov.
Drummond Warrior (IRE) 80-1 (9-5) Dwelt, always towards rear, ridden on inner 2f out, soon no extra, last of 8, 8 1/2l behind Mrs Bouquet (9-12) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Nov.
Fridtjof Nansen 14-1 (10-1) Prominent, disputed lead until headed 5f out, 2nd halfway, pushed along to challenge 2f out, ridden and led over 1f out, strongly pressed over 150 yards out, headed and no impression final 100 yards, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Whatharm (10-2) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Shawaf 4-1 (9-8) Broke well to lead, made all, 1 length clear halfway, ridden 1f out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 6f mdn pol in Oct beating Stalingrad (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Togoville (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride and pushed along towards rear early, 10th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Highly Approved (9-2) at Dundalk 6f pol in Nov.
Lord Mczie (IRE) 28-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, always behind, never a factor, last of 11, 13 1/4l behind Not Now Zeb (8-8) at Curragh 5f hcp Yielding in Jul.
That's Mad 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression, 7th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Earls (8-10) at Naas 5f hcp hvy in Nov.
Musical Rue (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Raced near side, towards rear, some headway from 2f out, kept on same pace without threatening final furlong, 10th of 18, 5l behind Pretty Boy Floyd (9-6) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Oct.
Aloysius Lilius (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Mrs Bouquet (9-12) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Nov.
Bluepower (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Tracked leader on outer, 3rd halfway, improved to 2nd 2f out, ridden and closed 1f out, no extra in 3rd final 100 yards, dropped to 4th on line, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Kuwait Direction (9-7) at Dundalk 5f mdn pol in Nov.
Too Hard To Hold (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Bumped with rival soon after start, soon chased leaders, 7th approaching straight, soon headway and effort, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Dee Sprinter (9-1) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Nov.
Limit Long 28-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, took keen hold early and disputed lead after 2f, ridden and headed entering straight, weakened, 10th of 14, 8 1/4l behind Pulse Of Shanghai (9-8) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
