always towards rear
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, 8th halfway, ridden into 6th 1f out, kept on to challenge closing stages, just held
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 2f out, ridden and no extra 1f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and challenged 2f out, kept on under pressure, headed under 1f out, no extra
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 2f out, ridden and no extra 1f out, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 1f out, soon led, strongly pressed close home
always towards rear
chased leader in 2nd, ridden to challenge 3f out, no extra 1f out, kept on same pace
Hunting Tower scored over timber at Listowel in September and is fit enough after a recent run at Wexford. Midnight Dreamer didn't take to hurdling on her debut at Gowran last month but had some decent form on the Flat in France, though over shorter trips. Bahrain Storm landed a Grade 3 over timber at Tipperary in July and will love the fast conditions but Dolphin Bay's victory over a huge field in a handicap hurdle at Naas in November was on soft going. ALAMANDA was having her first start since October when a very good third to Blue Ridge Lane at Dundalk early this month and, as she had been beaten just a head over the C&D in July from a 3lb higher mark, she looks well enough handicapped to take this.
Baron De'l (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, ridden in 15th and no impression 3f out, kept on one pace straight, 12th of 21, 37l behind What A Charm (9-2) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Bahrain Storm (IRE) 10-3 (9-4) Tracked leaders, dropped to moderate 6th under 3f out, soon no impression under pressure, 5th of 8, 6l behind Fictional Account (9-2) at Down Royal 1m 5f stks gd in Sep.
Bravely Fought (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Prominent, disputed early, 2nd halfway, headway under pressure to lead briefly under 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 4l behind Celtic Dane (8-8) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp 60-100 in Mar.
Midnight Dreamer 7-4fav (9-5) 4th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Halong Bay (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 1m hcp gs in Jul.
End Of The Affair (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 10th under 5f out, no extra early straight, 18th of 24, 19l behind Admiral Barry (11-0) at Curragh 1m 6f am hcp in Sep.
Alajan (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 7th on inner halfway, no extra from under 2f out, 8th of 12, 13l behind Herostatus (9-0) at Dundalk 2m hcp 60-90 std in Nov.
Dolphin Bay (IRE) 10-1 (8-7) Rear of mid-division, headway in 11th 3f out, ridden in 8th 2f out, under pressure in 7th over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 21, 11l behind What A Charm (9-2) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Hawk Flight (IRE) 15-2 (9-13) Held up towards rear, headway into 10th 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 7th of 14, 1l behind King Of Aran (9-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 50-75 pol in Mar.
Hunting Tower 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden into 5th 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Salute Him (11-0) at Bellewstown 1m 5f am stks (4yo+) gf in Jul.
Alamanda (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Always prominent, driven along in 2nd entering straight, under pressure and every chance from over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, just failed, 3rd of 8, hd behind Blue Ridge Lane (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f 4yo stk pol.
Silk Hall (UAE) 16-1 (9-4) Towards rear of mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon lost place, weakened 1f out, 12th of 17, 12l behind Deauville Flyer (9-2) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
