chased leaders, under pressure from 3 out, soon no extra, pulled up approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along from 3 out, soon no impression, weakened and mistake last
mid-division, not fluent 5th, closed from before straight between horses, ridden to chase winner from before last, kept on same pace
mid-division, progress on inner to be close up before straight, soon on terms, led approaching 2 out travelling smoothly, pushed along and headed between last 2, one pace
held up, pushed along and no impression before straight, soon no extra, eased from 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th, pushed along in 3rd before straight, no extra approaching last
held up, progress from before 3 out, close up travelling smoothly 2 out, led between last 2, ridden out run-in and stayed on well
led briefly early, close up, pushed along in 4th before straight, kept on same pace from before last
chased leaders, under pressure approaching straight, soon no impression, not fluent 2 out, eased
towards rear, slight mistake 4th, pushed along and headway on outer from before straight, ridden to chase winner from before last, kept on same pace
towards rear, not fluent 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along, headway on inner from before straight, soon no impression
soon led, joined into straight, headed approaching 2 out, weakened and not fluent last
in rear, slight mistake 1st, pushed along from 3 out, some headway under pressure before straight, soon no extra
chased leaders, no extra from 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along in 5th before straight, no extra approaching last
Rupert Lamb went up 7lb for an impressive victory at Killarney and ran disappointingly at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago. He's still 14lb below his chase mark so don't be surprised by a better effort. DIAMOND KING (NAP) has joined Gordon Elliott from Donald McCain and was well supported to make a successful debut at Down Royal a month ago. However, things didn't go according to plan as he was impeded before three out and never got back. Compensation awaits here though Wes Hardin looks a threat after a superb effort behind Colla Pier in a strong Punchestown handicap a fortnight ago. The selection's stable companion Vercingetorix is still only four and may lack the experience for such a tough handicap, a remark that also applies to Time For Mabel and After Rain, though the latter was an impressive maiden winner at Wexford.
The Plan Man (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent, slight mistake 3 out, no impression when not fluent last, one pace, 5th of 13, 11l behind Fethard Player (11-10) at Down Royal 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Cliff House (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Soon mid-division, towards rear before halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, 11th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Fit For The Job (9-10) at Curragh 1m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Diamond King (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up on inner, badly hampered approaching 3 out, chased leaders and kept on same pace from next, 4th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Fethard Player (11-10) at Down Royal 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Henry Higgins (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Rear, 12th halfway, 11th 3 out, no impression, never a factor, 10th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Colla Pier (9-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Rupert Lamb 6-1 (11-3) Held up 6th, 7th halfway, 8th and mistake 2 out, pushed along before last, no impression, 7th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Colla Pier (9-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Morga (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Soon tracked leader in 3rd, driven in 4thafter 2 out,dropped to 5th at last, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Colla Pier (9-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Blue Hell (FR) 4-1fav (11-2) Held up, 10th early, progress on inner to chase leader before straight, dropped to 7th at last, no extra,, 9th of 14, 21 1/4l behind Sir Scorpion (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Feb.
Keppols Queen (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 7th to be prominent, no extra straight and not fluent 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Damut (10-9) at Cork 2m 4f hcp hvy in Nov.
Wes Hardin (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Raced 5th, 4th 2 out, pushed along before last where slightly hampered and not much room, ridden and kept on well run-in to 2nd close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Colla Pier (9-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov.
After Rain (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) In rear, closed to track leaders approaching straight, soon challenged, led from 2 out, stayed on well to assert run-in, comfortably, won at Wexford 2m Yielding in Oct beating Runyon Rattler (11-7) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Vercingetorix (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Held up in 3rd, slight mistake 1st, pushed along after 3 out, ridden to challenge after 2 out, no extra in 2nd entering straight, kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 12l behind Aminabad (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 5f Soft - Heavy in Jul.
Lord Ben (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Led, blundered and headed 10th, tracked leader, blundered 5 out, every chance 3 out, lost place between last 2, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 21l behind Sound Investment (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Ranjaan (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Towards rear, some headway approaching straight, soon pushed along and no impression, 16th of 19, dist behind Ancient Sands (10-13) at Navan 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Time For Mabel (FR) 5-1fav (9-10) Mid-division, progress entering straight, ridden in 4th 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Santo Prince (8-10) at Gowran Park 1m 6f hcp gd in Oct.
Good As Gold 10-1 (9-13) Led, almost joined 2 out, ridden after 2 out, under pressure and headed at last where not fluent, kept on same pace run-in, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Colla Pier (9-11) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Princely Conn (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, closer in 3rd 3 out, pushed along and dropped to moderate 6th 2 out, went moderate 4th at last, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Identity Thief (11-2) at Down Royal 2m (1) Yielding in Oct.
