held up towards rear, progress into 9th after 3 out, ridden into 5th entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace
always towards rear, no impression before straight, weakened 2 out
prominent early, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no extra
rear of mid-division for most, ridden and no impression before straight, under pressure towards rear 2 out
held up towards rear, progress into 8th 2 out, ridden and no impression before last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra after 3 out, towards rear next and no impression, kept on one pace from before last
mid-division, progress into 4th after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led travelling well, ridden to assert run-in, kept on strongly, comfortably
held up towards rear, some progress entering straight, 10th when fell 2 out
mid-division, progress entering straight, closer in 7th 2 out, ridden before last, 6th last, kept on same pace run-in
mid-division, progress into 7th after 3 out, ridden and no extra before straight, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden in 7th entering straight, stayed on and ran around before last, 5th last, kept on same pace run-in
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened from 2 out
disputed early, soon chased leader in 2nd, led after 3rd, headed before 3 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, stayed on to dispute 2nd last, 2nd and kept on same pace run-in, pressed for 2nd close home
disputed, pecked 1st and soon led, saddled slipped next, headed after 3rd, pulled up before 4th
chased leaders, 7th halfway, progress into 3rd after 3 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, kept on and disputed 2nd last, 3rd and rider lost irons run-in, kept on close home and just held for 2nd
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to lead before 3 out, clear after 3 out, reduced advantage entering straight, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra from last
rear of mid-division for most, ridden and no impression before straight
A very poor quality handicap with few arriving in any sort of form though Excelli managed to finish second on the Flat at Navan last time when the ground was very testing. Simiel hasn't shown much since landing a Clonmel maiden over a longer trip last September while Punches Pious, who hasn't been running badly on the level, showed little when tried over timber back in 2014. Winning point-to-pointer LOCH LUATHA has had 19 starts under Rules without winning but such is the nature of this race that he can get off the mark. He wasn't beaten far when fifth here last month and did even better when runner-up to Tintown Robin at Clonmel, form that would be good enough for this.
Excelli (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, switched right and bumped rival 3f out, challenged 2f out, led 1 1/2f out and attempted to assert, headed and no extra inside final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 18, 3 3/4l behind Il Piccolo Grande (9-7) at Navan 1m hcp hvy in Oct.
Howaya Hurricane (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division on outer, hampered 3rd, pulled up quickly after 5th, at Fairyhouse 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Simiel (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Prominent, slightly impeded 1st, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, at Downpatrick 2m 3f hcp gd in Jun.
Fern Owl 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division, weakened from 4 out, never a factor, 10th of 12, dist behind Next Destination (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Apache Gold (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Dwelt, raced in 11th early, progress under pressure but no impression from over 1f out, kept on same pace without threatening, 8th of 15, 9 1/2l behind Doonard Prince (9-9) at Navan 5f hcp hvy in Oct.
Lagenod (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division early, moderate 10th approaching straight, soon no extra, 10th of 15, dist behind Trainwreck (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f mdn sft in Nov.
Oakfield Rose (IRE) 100-1 (11-7) Held up, 14th approaching 7th, no extra approaching straight, 13th of 18, dist behind Dawn Shadow (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn sft in Nov.
Punches Pious (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Soon tracked leaders, bumped 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 18, 8 1/4l behind Il Piccolo Grande (9-7) at Navan 1m hcp hvy in Oct.
Fairy Court (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division early, 8th from 3rd, closed on outer approaching straight, soon 6th, no extra from before last, 9th of 15, 22l behind Tintown Robin (11-10) at Clonmel 2m 1f hcp sft in Nov.
Hunters Vision (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led and disputed, ridden and no extra before 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, 17th of 18, dist behind Turasoir (11-6) at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Musical Ava (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, no extra in 6th before last, kept on one pace, 6th of 18, 12 1/2l behind Turasoir (11-6) at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Shine In Dubai (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Led and disputed, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, no extra before last, 7th of 18, 13l behind Turasoir (11-6) at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Loch Luatha (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, jumped right 3rd, led from 3 out, joined before straight, headed and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Tintown Robin (11-10) at Clonmel 2m 1f hcp sft in Nov.
Rock On Lilly (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led, ridden 3 out, headed entering straight, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 34l behind Balinaboola (11-2) at Wexford 2m hcp sft in Apr.
Scotch Quay (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Towards rear, carried wide off bend after 5th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 12th of 18, 28 1/4l behind Ted Bach (10-13) at Roscommon 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Shantelle (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division early, 7th from 5th, no extra approaching straight, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Demi Plie (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 5th, fell at 3rd, at Fairyhouse 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Sheperds Cave (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, soon no extra, 5th of 7, dist behind Brahma Bull (11-12) at Thurles 3m mdn Yielding in Nov.
The Ballyboys (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, slight mistake 1st, mistake 4 out, ridden and no extra next, weakened, 12th of 20, dist behind Alaliya (11-5) at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Nov.
Mister Butler (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Soon disputed lead, 2nd after 3rd, 3rd before 4th, lost place after 4th, 8th at 5th, weakened to rear after 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, dist behind Conna Cross (11-11) at Cork 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
