tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, progress and edged left after 4 out, soon led narrowly, pressed 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, easily
held up towards rear, closer in 5th 4 out, ridden 3 out, no impression before 2 out, moderate 3rd last, kept on one pace
disputed, slow and slight mistake 3rd, headed and tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, closer and slightly bumped after 4 out, challenged and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, no extra in 3rd 2 out where jumped right and pecked, 4th from last
disputed, led 3rd, narrowly headed after 4 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no extra in 3rd 3 out, weakened before next
held up, slight mistake 1st, rear and slow 2nd, ridden in moderate 6th before straight, soon no extra
tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 4th halfway, ridden and slight mistake 3 out, progress and edged left before 2 out, challenged 2 out, under pressure in 2nd last, kept on same pace
held up, slightly hampered 4th, rear 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 3 out
Gordon Elliott always targets this race with his better juveniles and has two entries. French recruit Old Victoria won a mares' maiden at Cholet in September and is certain to improve while New Year Honours was picked up for 80,000gns out of Ralph Beckett's yard after landing a Lingfield all-weather claimer. Snapius was rated 84 when easily landing a Fairyhouse claimer for Joseph O'Brien in May but COUGAR, rated 92 after landing a Curragh maiden for Aidan O'Brien, made a very good impressing when scoring at Gowran and can defy a penalty.
Cougar (JPN) 5-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to 3rd 3 out, went 2nd next, no impression after 2 out, pushed along and closed on leader last, challenged after last and led final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Oct beating Charlie Luciano (11-0) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Poets Cottage (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, rear of mid-division when not fluent 6th, no extra and dropped towards rear 2 out, soon eased, 13th of 14, dist behind Common Practice (11-0) at Galway 2m mdn hvy in Oct.
Snapius (IRE) 7-2 (9-12) In touch, 3rd halfway, switched left entering straight, improved to lead over 2f out, ridden 2f out, asserted under 1f out, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 1m 2f gd in May beating Recurrent Dream (9-12) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Old Victoria (FR) (10-10) won at Cholet 2m 1f fll in Sep.
Mornington Bay (IRE) 100-1 (8-8) Disputed lead early, tracked leaders and 5th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, soon ridden and no extra towards rear under 2f out, 13th of 14, 16l behind Mads Black Eights (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Oct.
New Year Honours 9-4fav (9-6) Raced keenly tracking leaders, lost place slightly 7f out, rallied out wide tracking leaders over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, led final 110 yards, bit in hand, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jun beating Ocean Ruler (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Power To Love (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) Raced keenly, 3rd halfway, pushed along over 3f out, soon no extra, tailed off, last of 3, dist behind Magellan Strait (9-10) at Bellewstown 1m 4f Good - Yielding in Sep.
Uberrima Fides 11-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along on outer entering straight, soon ridden and no impression, no extra final furlong, 8th of 13, 9l behind Yokkell (9-7) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
