Verdict

It was a surprise to find Academic Accolade racing over 2m7f in a hurdle race at Downpatrick following his decent run behind Lets Go Sunshine here and he finished well beaten. Flattery is still a maiden but has produced several very good efforts including on this track and she's 4lb lower than when runner-up in a similar race here a year ago. Connyella has been well beaten on both starts here but is in better form now and undoubtedly found 1m6f stretching her stamina last time. Try Freedom ran a fine race behind Word For Word here at the beginning of last month but he's still a maiden after 25 starts and MARY JAMES has much more potential. She was having only her fifth career start when a very good second to Diversify at Tramore last time and can make the necessary progress to take this.

Formwatch

A Hit Is A Hit (FR) 16-1 (9-7) Never better than mid-division, 11th of 17, 17l behind Whip Mark (9-5) at Fairyhouse 6f mdn stks sft in Sep.

Academic Accolade 9-2 (12-0) Always prominent, disputed lead, narrowly headed 3f out, soon ridden, 3rd and no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong to snatch 2nd closing strides, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Dunne Grand (11-6) at Laytown 7f amt stk in Sep.

Connyella (IRE) 7-2fav (8-7) Held up towards rear, niggled halfway, ridden into 7th 3f out, 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Beau Michael (9-9) at Ballinrobe 1m 6f hcp 50-75 in Jul.

Matters At Hand (IRE) 18-1 (9-3) Prominent, 4th halfway, 2nd and ridden 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Chaparro (8-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 47-65 pol in Sep.

Sovento (GER) 2-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, soon mid-division, ridden well over 2f out, no impression, 4th of 10, 19l behind Sharp Sovereign (9-6) at Hamilton 1m 3f app hcp (6) gs in Sep.

Mary James 10-3fav (9-12) Always prominent, on terms over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden clear from over 1f out, caught near finish, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Diversify (8-11) at Tramore 1m 4f hcp 47-65 fm in Aug.

Giant Slalom 10-1 (8-12) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden in 11th 2f out, kept on in 7th 1f out, no extra final furlong, kept on same pace, 7th of 17, 6l behind Gracchus (8-13) at Leopardstown 7f hcp 50-75 gd in Jul.

Teak (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, driven along approaching straight, no extra from 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 13l behind Anshan Dreams (9-5) at Dundalk 2m hcp 50-75 pol in Sep.

Try Freedom (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Chased leaders on outer, 6th 4f out, 5th under pressure 2f out, no extra from 1f out, 2nd of 13, nk behind Word For Word (8-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol in Sep.

Bluebell Rock (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden into 7th 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 15l behind Final Flashback (9-5) at Tramore 1m 4f clm stks fm in Aug.

Fascinating Paddy (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Rear of mid-division, headway 5f out, went 3rd over 2f out, no impression final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind The Buck (9-2) at Wexford 2m hcp 47-65 gf in Aug.

Peccatorum (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Prominent, 3rd under 2f out, soon no impression under pressure and kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Diversify (8-11) at Tramore 1m 4f hcp 47-65 fm in Aug.

Down The Dale (IRE) 7-2 (8-9) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, 5th and driven along 4f out, no impression from 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 13, 6l behind The Buck (9-2) at Wexford 2m hcp 47-65 gf in Aug.

Tara Tartan (IRE) 66-1 (9-10) Never better than mid-division, weakened straight, last of 16, 16l behind School Holidays (9-0) at Fairyhouse 7f 3yo & 4yo mdn gd in Jun.

Zinawar (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Mid-division, weakened from 4f out, 11th of 15, 26l behind Mac Tiernan (8-6) at Clonmel 1m 2f 3yo hcp 47-65 gf in Sep.

Flattery 9-2 (8-11) Mid-division, progress into 6th 3f out, checked briefly over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 17, 6l behind Strandfield Lady (8-12) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp 50-85 gd in Aug.

Hawa Bali (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Rear of mid-division, some headway from 2f out, kept on inside final furlong without reaching leaders, 5th of 18, 1l behind Waydownsouth (9-11) at Fairyhouse 1m 1f 3yo app hcp 0-70 sft in Sep.