led, headed narrowly 2nd, midfield 6th, ridden and in touch 3 out, weakened from 2 out
restrained towards rear, not fluent 10th, headway before 4 out, close up 3 out, ridden and upsides 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on strongly run in
close up, led narrowly after 7th, headed 13th (water), regained narrow advantage 15th, ridden and headed approaching last, ran on
pressed leader, led 2nd, headed after 3rd, upsides when fell 7th
held up in touch, jumped right 2nd, led after 3rd, headed narrowly after 7th, marginal leader 13th (water), headed when slight mistake 15th, ridden and upsides 2 out, no extra
in rear, still in rear when pushed along after 4 out, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on
Gordon Elliott has sent out the winner of this twice in the past and Galvin has won three times, including a Grade 3 last time, since finishing second in a Listed handicap at The Festival here in March. He is rated 4lb higher than fellow Irish raider Doctor Duffy and 8lb higher than SOLDIER OF LOVE. The latter, however, has done nothing but improve over the summer. He’s a thorough stayer and bids to give his trainer a fifth success in the race. A Grade 2 winner over hurdles, Clondaw Caitlin is bred to jump fences and could be interesting with her mare’s allowance while Mossy Fen finished fifth in the Ballymore here last season and is another exciting prospect. Ask Dillon was no slouch over hurdles either so can’t be ignored.
Doctor Duffy (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, jumped right, bumped with rival and fell 1st, at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct.
Galvin (IRE) 1-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd at 7th, pressed leader travelling well after 3 out, led and slipped slightly entering straight, pushed along and asserted before last, kept on well under hands and heels run-in, not extended, won at Tipperary 2m 4f (1) gd in Oct beating Waitnsee (10-11) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Soldier Of Love 9-4 (12-2) Tracked leader, hit 7th, led 4 out, 1 length ahead last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (3) gd in Sep beating Coole Cody (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Ask Dillon (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Raced in 3rd, went 2nd after 4th behind clear leader, pushed along after 3 out, lost 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 36l behind Lisnagar Oscar (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Mossy Fen (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, outpaced after 2 out, soon ridden, no impression between last 2, 5th of 12, 23l behind Envoi Allen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Clondaw Caitlin (IRE) 9-4 (10-9) In touch on outside, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, ridden before last, stayed on well, won at Kelso 2m 2f (1) hvy in Feb beating Elf De Re (11-2) by 5l, 7 ran.
