chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong and headed last 50 yards
held up towards rear, ridden into 6th 2f out, kept on to 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace
chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, stayed on to press leader inside final furlong, just held for 2nd close home
led, ridden 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along 3f out, ridden and no extra over 2f out
dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden into 5th 2f out, no extra 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, ridden into 6th 1f out, ran on well final furlong to lead last 50 yards
mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out
Victor's Beach is up 4lb for his victory over tonight's rival Zainda here a fortnight ago but the extra furlong will suit and he should be in the shake-up. The runner-up won't be far away on that form nor will Sherzam and DESIDERATA, who were close behind. The latter just gets the vote as he was staying on very strongly at the finish and looks to have dropped to a winning mark. Time To Begin, who was making his Polytrack debut when runner-up to Hail Shower in October, missed the break and with a better start has to be on the short-list.
Sherzam 4-1fav (9-2) Mid-division, 7th entering straight, soon ridden, kept on from 1 1/2f out, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Victor's Beach (8-8) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol.
Eusepio (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden in 5th 2f out, kept on one paced, 5th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Your Pal Tal (9-5) at Dundalk 6f 2yo mdn stks pol.
Time To Begin (IRE) 6-1fav (9-5) Dwelt, soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, no impression winner final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Hail Shower (8-9) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol in Oct.
Victor's Beach (IRE) 4-1fav (8-8) Mid-division, progress 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol beating Toccata Blue (9-8) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Zainda (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Prominent, led over 2f out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Victor's Beach (8-8) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol.
Truly Delightful (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Prominent, ridden in 3rd before straight, no impression and kept on same pace from under 2f out, 5th of 8, 7l behind Harmonic Note (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 2yo hcp pol in Nov.
Boughtforasong (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride and held up, progress into 7th and ridden 2f out, kept on, 6th of 14, 6l behind Your Pal Tal (9-5) at Dundalk 6f 2yo mdn stks pol.
Desiderata (IRE) 20-1 (8-5) In rear, last and short of room briefly 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on on outer final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Victor's Beach (8-8) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol.
Traps Army (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Tracked winner, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Marmot Bay (8-5) at Wolverhampton 6f 2yo clm stks (6) pol in Nov.
Gmac (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out, 9th of 14, 16l behind Love And Cherish (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn auc stks pol in Nov.
Merciful Hour (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened, 10th of 11, 8l behind Victor's Beach (8-8) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol.
