towards rear, ridden and no impression towards outer 3f out, no extra 2f out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression towards outer 3f out, soon no extra, eased closing stages
chased leaders, improved to lead after 4 1/2f, ridden and headed 2f out, soon no extra and kept on one pace
prominent, led after 1 1/2f, headed after 4 1/2f, ridden in 3rd 3f out, no extra 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, 7th 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
led and disputed, headed after 1 1/2f and chased leaders, 4th halfway, progress into 2nd 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong
mid-division, ridden and no impression 3f out, no extra 2f out
mid-division, progress in 6th 4f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 2nd and pressed winner 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders early, mid-division halfway, closer in 5th 4f out, ridden 3f out, no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, ridden in 8th 2f out, soon no extra, eased final furlong
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 6th 3f out, no impression 2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Eminence, Perfect Tapatino and Spruce Meadows finished 4-5-6 in the 5.45 at Dundalk Friday. Bigger And Better is in peak form at present though he's been hit with a 12lb rise for his latest victory at Gowran and this is tougher. KARAWAN couldn't quite get to Bopedro over a mile at the Curragh but that was his first start since May and he'll be ready for this so gets the nod. Halimi completed a double over 1m4f in the summer and this looks on the short side but Xcite is at the right end of the handicap despite being 2lb wrong at the weights and has to be respected.
Tandem 16-1 (11-0) Waited with, soon towards rear, some headway and effort straight, soon no impression and kept on without threatening run-in, 5th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Hearts Are Trumps (11-7) at Punchestown 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Bigger And Better 9-4 (10-6) Soon chased leaders, closed travelling smoothly straight, led over 2f out, soon pushed along, went on from over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp sft in Sep beating Pasley (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Eminence (IRE) 7-2jfav (9-13) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway on outer early straight, 3rd and ridden over 1f out, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 12, 3l behind Long Arm (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Karawaan (IRE) 10-1 (9-13) Led early, prominent, 2nd 3f out, led again 2f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Bopedro (9-13) at Curragh 1m hcp sft in Sep.
Perfect Tapatino (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, mid-division halfway, 5th and ridden 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Long Arm (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Halimi (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along approaching straight, soon ridden and 3rd 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Pearl Warrior (8-4) at Listowel 1m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
Giga White (IRE) 9-2fav (8-11) Held up in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never reached leaders, 7th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Wise Counsel (9-3) at Ayr 7f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Spruce Meadows (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and some headway on inner 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Long Arm (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Stormy Tale (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden early straight and soon dropped towards rear, no extra, 14th of 16, 20 1/2l behind Jumellea (8-10) at Navan 1m hcp fll sft in Oct.
Divine Approach (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Impeded and almost unseated rider after 1f, towards rear, raced wide into straight, soon no extra, 14th of 15, 28l behind Franklyn (8-12) at Listowel 1m 1f hcp sft in Sep.
Xcite (IRE) 3-1fav (9-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along approaching straight, 3rd and ridden 1f out, no impression on principals inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 5 1/4l behind Ideal Pal (9-8) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
