waited with, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening from over 1f out
waited with, ridden to chase leaders and no impression from over 1f out, kept on same pace
soon chased leaders and taken wide, struggling halfway, soon no impression
chased leaders, progress into 2nd over 1f out, led and stayed on well inside final furlong
prominent, in front halfway, joined from 3f out, no extra approaching final furlong
chased leaders, 7th early, moderate 3rd and kept on same pace from over 1f out
chased leaders, 9th early, no extra 2f out
soon chased leaders and taken wide, struggling over 3f out, soon no extra
soon mid-division, kept on without threatening under pressure from over 1f out
prominent, soon led, headed from halfway, stayed close up until no extra approaching final furlong
chased leaders, 6th early, no extra 2f out
chased leaders, dropped behind from over 2f out
chased leaders, closed up from 3f out, led approaching final furlong, headed and kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from 2f out
waited with, kept on same pace from over 2f out
chased leaders, 8th early, no extra 2f out
soon tracked leaders, 3rd from 3f out, no impression from over 1f out
prominent early, soon chased leaders, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
Drombeg Dawn won this last year and is 2lb lower here though the first four home were drawn high. She goes well fresh and must be considered for a follow-up though this looks a better class contest. Billyford has bounced right back to his best on Polytrack recently and is still on a fair mark so must be on the short-list as is Prince Of Fire, another who has been going well at Dundalk. TAKE IT TO THE MAX began last season's campaign with a victory from a mark of 72 and he's now on 97 thanks to a successful year which included four wins. His latest victory at Leopardstown in October was gained convincingly and he can take this back to the UK. The very lightly-raced Font Of Wisdom makes his handicap debut in this tough event while Windsor Palace will no doubt be pleased to be relieved of the pacemaking duties he performed for his illustrious stablemates. Sharestan beat a huge field on his belated debut here in June and is the type to do well this year.
Defining Year (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Mid-division on inner, 6th entering straight, some headway under pressure to go 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong but no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Zaminast (8-13) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Listed stks (1) in Oct.
Hujaylea (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) 6th of 10, 6l behind City Style (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f stks gd in Feb.
Northern Rocked (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 4l behind Enchanted Evening (9-1) at Leopardstown 7f Listed stks (1) sft in Nov.
Sharestan (IRE) 5-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 2f out, ridden and soon no impression, kept on one pace in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Flowers Of Spring (9-9) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f stks gd in Jul.
Take It To The Max 9-2fav (9-5) Soon led and made virtually all, asserted over 1f out and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m App hcp in Oct beating Elusive Award (8-11) by 3l, 20 ran.
Sikara (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, moderate 2nd from 3f out, closed to lead under 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Cork 1m fll hcp 60-90 sft in Oct beating Hadrian's Waltz (9-4) by 7l, 11 ran.
Windsor Palace (IRE) 100-1 (9-5) Led and soon clear, reduced lead over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 5, 35l behind Twice Over (9-5) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gs in Aug.
Font Of Wisdom (IRE) 3-10fav (9-5) Led and disputed, pushed clear 2f out, kept on strongly, easily, won at Galway 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn gd in Jul beating Jolie Jioconde (9-0) by 5l, 8 ran.
Parkers Mill (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 11l behind Alexander Pope (9-1) at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Whipless (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up, 8th halfway, headway into 5th 2f out, ridden in 4th 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Prince Of Fire (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcap pol in Feb.
Arabian Spirit 7-2 (9-12) Led 1f, chased clear leader until over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 23l behind European Dream (8-13) at Ayr 1m 1f hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Oct.
Prince Of Fire (GER) 5-2fav (9-7) Led and disputed, 2nd halfway, led again 1 1/2f out, ridden and strongly pressed 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcap pol in Feb beating King Of Aran (9-1) by hd, 10 ran.
Ansaab 7-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to challenge 2f out, soon led, ridden and challenged over 1f out, kept on well and drifted left under pressure final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn stks pol in Oct beating Ariyfa (9-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Drombeg Dawn (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Towards rear, some headway entering straight, no impression in 6th from over 1f out, 6th of 11, 9l behind Mamma Rosa (8-5) at Listowel 1m fll hcp sft in Sep.
If Per Chance (IRE) 17-2 (9-5) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden into 4th 1f out, kept on well final furlong to lead on line, won at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Feb beating Akasaka (9-7) by ns, 14 ran.
Solent Ridge (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, last of 10, 4 1/2l behind Billyford (9-9) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol.
Scottish Boogie (IRE) 4-1fav (10-8) Soon mid-division, improved to chased leaders in 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 7th of 13, 10l behind Paramount (9-5) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp 60-100 in Jul.
Toufan Express 20-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Billyford (9-9) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol.
Billyford (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Disputed early, soon chased leader in 2nd, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, kept on well close home, won at Dundalk 1m hcap pol beating Rocky's Pride (8-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
