Verdict

Long Arm is difficult to evaluate having followed a Gowran maiden victory with a hard-fought success over this track and trip in October. He should improve again and Ger Lyons has made a winning start to the new Turf season. Golden Valour is stepping up to this trip for the first time but certainly wasn't stopping over the extended 1m2f a couple of weeks ago though a 7lb rise makes this tougher and fourth-placed Moving Forward should get closer on the revised terms. Politicise has been running well here and over hurdles though could find this on the short side but Indignation showed massive improvement to finish a close second in a course and distance maiden last month and makes his handicap debut. MILLSWYN returned from a spell over hurdles to make his debut here earlier this month. He would have finished very much closer with a clearer run in the straight and can gain compensation.

Formwatch

Long Arm (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd 4f out, ridden and headway early straight, challenged from over 1f out, under pressure and led final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct beating Moktamel (8-13) by 1/2l, 12 ran.

Millswyn (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, closer 2f out, pushed along and short of room 1f out, switched right and kept on final 100 yards, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Sayesse (8-4) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Mar.

White Desert (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Waited with, 8th after 2nd, slight mistake 4th, slightly impeded 5th, closed up from 7th, one pace approaching 2 out, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Make The Switch (11-1) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn gd in Aug.

Golden Valour 11-4fav (9-10) Held up in mid-division, ridden to close on outer 2f out, challenged 1f out, disputed inside final furlong, led last 50 yards and kept on well close home, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Mar beating Sheberghan (9-9) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.

Heatstroke (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out and dropped to 6th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 4 3/4l behind Sayesse (8-4) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Mar.

Politicise (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Settled behind leaders, moderate 6th halfway, closed 2 1/2f out, ridden into 2nd under 2f out, challenged 1 1/2f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind Jerandme (11-7) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Feb.

Drakensberg (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, ridden over 2f out and no impression 1 1/2f out, no extra, 7th of 10, 14 1/2l behind Royal Aide (9-0) at Bellewstown 1m 4f hcp gd in Aug.

No Say Ever 7-1 (9-8) Soon mid-division, pushed along approaching straight, tight for room under 2f out, one pace after, 12th of 16, 14 1/4l behind Bigger And Better (10-6) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp sft in Sep.

Touch Of Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway and not much room after 6th, tracked leaders and bumped slightly after 2 out, kept on same pace from before last, 5th of 11, 8l behind Shumaker (10-8) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.

Formal Order 4-1 (9-5) Soon led, headed soon after 3f and prominent, on terms from halfway, edged left and headed over 2f out, no extra and one pace after, 5th of 16, 6l behind Istoria (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn sft in Sep.

Moving Forward (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Disputed briefly, soon settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden to challenge 2f out, under pressure in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Golden Valour (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Mar.

Final Orders 33-1 (9-2) Soon raced in 5th, effort straight, no extra inside final furlong, 13th of 14, 13 1/4l behind Lord Rapscallion (9-8) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.

Indignation (FR) 7-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along to challenge under 2f out, soon ridden and led 1f out, under pressure and headed 100 yards out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Narynkol (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn pol in Feb.

Alhajjaj 15-2 (8-13) Soon disputed, led after 2f, ridden and pressed 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out, 8th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Golden Valour (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Mar.