chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, under pressure in 5th 3f out, stayed on into 2nd before last, no impression on winner
chased leader, disputed briefly 2nd, ridden and close up 3f out, no extra in 3rd 2f out, weakened before last
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, pecked 2 out, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened
made all, joined briefly 2nd, ridden to assert before last, kept on well
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in close 3rd 3f out, no extra 2f out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, ridden after 2 out, closer in 4th 3f out, 2nd 2f out, no extra before last
held up towards rear, ridden after 2 out, stayed on into 4th before last, kept on same pace run-in
held up, ridden towards rear after 2 out, no impression straight
BRITISH ART won over an extended 2m here last month and has run two fine races over this sort of trip subsequently. He's up against some unexposed types here but can get back to winning ways. Count Simon has run his best races over shorter though today's ground should ensure he lasts home while Eclat Des Mottes is surely better than he showed at Fairyhouse. The latter had won a Downpatrick maiden earlier and makes his handicap debut from what could turn out to be a lenient mark though the same could be said of Presented Well. Henry De Bromhead's charge had plenty in hand when landing a maiden here last month and today's longer trip will be in his favour as he was only beaten a neck in a point-to-point. He's ridden by a claimer with Rachael Blackmore on board Denwork for the in-form Joseph O'Brien and her mount is another lightly-raced type making his handicap debut.
Count Simon (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway from before 8th, closed up from 3 out, prominent approaching straight, soon challenged and every chance, not match winner from between last 2, one pace, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Daybreak Boy (11-9) at Clonmel 2m 4f Yielding in Jan.
Eclat Des Mottes (FR) 5-4fav (11-6) Waited with, 6th at 6th, jumped left 7th and not fluent, pushed along in last approaching 3 out, 6th again and no impression approaching straight, hit 2 out and no extra, 6th of 8, dist behind Jack Dillinger (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f gd in Dec.
Presented Well (IRE) 8-13fav (11-8) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to dispute after 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn Yielding in Dec beating Pilot Station (11-8) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Denwork (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outer, improved to dispute lead 3 out, soon ridden, headed after 2 out, soon leaders, 3rd of 9, 13 3/4l behind Cap York (11-12) at Navan 2m 7f mdn Yielding in Dec.
Invincible Cave (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway to lead after 4 out, pushed along in straight, slight mistake and headed 2 out, no impression in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 14, 9 3/4l behind Eurobot (11-8) at Cork 3m mdn sft in Jan.
British Art 7-2fav (11-6) Waited with, 12th at 7th, headway 9th, tracked leaders 2 out, prominent approaching straight, led approaching last, kept on run-in, headed near line, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Gliondar Mo Chroi (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Jan.
Lord In Red (GER) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 5th and mistake 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 10, 29 3/4l behind He's No Molly (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
The White Volcano (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, ridden in 7th before 3 out, no impression in moderate 5th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Woodland Opera (11-5) at Down Royal 3m gf in Aug.
