chased leaders, disputed 3rd halfway, pushed along before 4 out, no extra in moderate 4th from 3 out, mistake last
chased leaders on inner, mistake 2nd, slightly hampered on landing 3rd, disputed 3rd halfway, disputing 4th when bad mistake 4 out, eased and pulled up before next
tracked leader, mistake and veered right on landing 3rd, soon dropped to rear, mistake 5th, detached from 6th, no extra from 3 out
led, not fluent and joined 6th, headed before 3 out where mistake, soon 3rd and no extra before straight
chased leaders, slight mistakes 3rd and 5th, 2nd halfway, disputed from 6th, led 3 out, joined entering straight, narrow lead before last where landed awkwardly, ridden and headed 100 yards out, no extra
held up in rear, slight mistake 2nd, 5th halfway, went 3rd 4 out, progress to dispute entering straight, not fluent and headed 2 out, challenged again before last where mistake, ridden to lead final 100 yards, kept on well
With the stable in outstanding form, Niccolai can't be dismissed after her impressive Clonmel victory though she faces much stiffer opposition. STONES AND ROSES drops back in trip after defying a last-fence mistake at Cork but showed plenty of pace and has more to offer so gets the vote. He had Three Is Company 12 lengths behind that day and the latter boosted the form when scoring easily at Tramore where he loved the heavy conditions. Great Khan had looked a likely future winner with placed efforts at Galway and Thurles but made far too many mistakes when well supported on the latter track next time.
Niccolai (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd approaching straight and headway to lead 2 out, asserted early run-in and rider lost iron, ridden and kept on well, won at Clonmel 2m 1f sft in Dec beating Touch Of Oscar (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
Stones And Roses (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Prominent and disputed at times, disputed from 5 out, narrow lead 3 out, ridden to assert next, kept on strongly from last, won at Cork 2m 5f sft in Nov beating Randalls Ur Poet (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 13 ran.
Three Is Company (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, mistake 11th, led next, mistake 3 out, left clear 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well from before last, won at Tramore 2m 5f hvy in Dec beating Tokyo Getaway (11-5) by 7 1/2l, 15 ran.
Western Sea (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Led, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and joined after next, disputed lead when fell last, at Thurles 2m 2f hcp sft in Nov.
Great Khan (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) In rear, mistake 3rd, slight mistakes 7th and 8th, detached and pulled up before next, at Thurles 2m 2f hcp sft in Nov.
Halsafari (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 3rd halfway, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression in 5th entering straight, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Young Dev (11-2) at Limerick 2m 2f hcp hvy in Dec.
