mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong
mid-division, 9th halfway, no extra from 2f out
always prominent, close up 3rd halfway, disputed and driven along from over 2f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, just failed
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra from over 1f out
prominent, disputed lead halfway, driven along and headed over 2f out, soon lost place and dropped to 9th 1f out, rallied well inside final furlong
prominent, disputed lead halfway, headed over 1f out, soon no extra
rear of mid-division, 11th halfway, kept on one pace under pressure from over 1f out without threatening
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge over 1f out, disputed early final furlong, kept on well under pressure, led on line
rear of mid-division, went 5th on far side 2f out, challenged over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong
always towards rear
rear of mid-division, driven along on stand side over 2f out, 8th over 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong without reaching leaders
held up towards rear, no impression from 2f out
Yorkshire trainers Richard Fahey and Kevin Ryan are strongly represented here and are not over for the fresh air. Our Joe Mac is quite lightly raced and will enjoy the soft ground so may come out best of the Fahey pair but Ryan's prolific all-weather winner Steed is in such good form that he can come out on top of the raiding party. Rory Anna has been in very good form over timber but may just be taken off her feet while Toraidhe, who was third a year ago, will have been primed for this though the form didn't work out particularly well. Gimli's Rock won a Grade 2 over timber in November but this looks on the short side and Ballivor, despite gaining all of his three career victories over the C&D on soft ground, is now on his highest ever mark. Dermot Weld, who generally targets the race and has won it three times in recent years, can make it number four. PHOTO OPPORTUNITY made a winning belated racecourse debut in August and ran well enough in a Leopardstown handicap the following month to be put away for the winter and await a crack at this.
Kyllachy Star 25-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, 12th of 21, 9l behind Horseradish (8-13) at Doncaster 7f hcp 105 (2) gs in Nov.
Our Joe Mac (IRE) 7-2fav (8-12) Mid-division in 5th, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Tiger Reigns (9-5) at Ayr 1m hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep.
Toraidhe (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out, eased over 1f out, last of 20, 25l behind Barack (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m hcap sft in Oct.
Photo Opportunity 8-1 (7-13) Mid-division, 10th halfway, 8th and headway 2f out, 5th when switched 1f out, kept on, 4th of 18, 2l behind Hujaylea (8-8) at Leopardstown 7f hcap gf in Sep.
Gimli's Rock (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up early, improved into 6th on outer 4f out, 4th 2f out, ridden to lead under 1f out, soon clear, eased close home, won at Naas 1m 4f hcap gd in Oct beating Final Flashback (8-11) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
The Fifth Member (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Tracked leader until over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 4l behind Mafeking (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Steed 6-5fav (9-13) Went right start, raced wide in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden to lead approaching 1f out, ran on, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Feb beating Thunderball (8-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Hawkhill (IRE) 6-1 (8-6) Rear of mid-division, ridden into 11th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 12th of 20, 10l behind Barack (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m hcap sft in Oct.
Drombeg Dawn (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Slowly away, soon mid-division on outer, ridden in 6th entering straight, weakened from 2f out, 15th of 16, 21l behind Hallie's Comet (9-13) at Listowel 1m fll hcp gd in Sep.
Money Trader (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) 3rd early, 5th approaching straight, no impression from 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 9th of 14, 4l behind Banna Boirche (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Blue Moon 11-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, pressed leader over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Follow The Flag (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Blue Ridge Lane (IRE) 10-1 (8-1) Mid-division on outer, weakened approaching straight, last of 14, 21l behind Avanti Albert (8-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f Ext hcp pol in Nov '09.
Rory Anna (IRE) 11-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th and driven along 4f out, outpaced entering straight, moderate 4th under 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Cilium (10-0) at Killarney 1m 3f fll hcp 60-90 gf in Jul.
Osirixamix (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Dwelt slightly, soon mid-division, ridden in 5th entering straight, 3rd and staying on on inner when checked under 1f out, lost place and soon dropped to 4th, 4th of 9, 3l behind The Black Abbot (8-12) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp 50-85 gf in Sep.
Rock And Roll Kid (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, some headway into 13th 3f out, ridden and no impression straight, 14th of 20, 11l behind Barack (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m hcap sft in Oct.
Ballivor (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden under 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on, 5th of 9, 5l behind Hujaylea (8-13) at Curragh 7f stks in Sep.
