tracked leader, 3rd halfway, closed in 2nd over 3f out, ridden under 2f out, no impression and lost place under 1f out, weakened
made virtually all, reduced advantage over 3f out, ridden under 1f out, kept on well final furlong
rear, 7th halfway, 8th 3f out, effort and progress over 1f out, ridden 1f out, weakened final 100 yards
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, dropped to 3rd and under pressure over 3f out, lost place and weakened under 2f out
dwelt, soon rear of mid-division, 5th halfway, 4th 3f out, effort and ridden over 1f out, dropped to 4th and no impression closing stages
soon in touch on outer, dropped to 6th halfway, 5th 3f out, came wide entering straight, lost place and weakened 1 1/2f out
dwelt slightly, raced in rear, 8th halfway, 7th 3f out, switched right 1 1/2f out, progress and ridden 1f out, kept on in 3rd closing stages, nearest at finish
Bears Hug dropped down to 6f to land a maiden in October and this is a huge step-up in trip. Tudor City was beaten half-a-length over the course and distance before beating a big field over 1m2f at Leopardstown. He's since finished last in the Greatwood at Cheltenham but is fairly treated on the all-weather. Dalvey was well suited by stepping up to 2m a week ago and is 7lb higher while Golden Twilight was having only his third start here when battling to victory under a big weight last month. DANCES WITH STARS finished runner-up four times at short odds here last winter and didn't reappear until last week when seeing off the odds-on Seattle Creek despite wandering around. Joseph O'Brien's charge gets the nod despite being 4lb wrong in the weights though Advanced Virgo looks a threat on his excellent third in a strong Leopardstown handicap in October.
In From The Cold (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Chased leader, not fluent in 3rd at 3rd, improved to 2nd after 4 out, took closer order 2 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd before last where slight mistake, weakened, 3rd of 7, 12 1/4l behind Saint Felicien (11-11) at Gowran Park 2m Yielding in Nov.
Dalvey 20-1 (8-13) Dwelt slightly, raced towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched right under 2f out, strongly challenged and bumped leader over 1f out, soon led, ridden and asserted closing stages, comfortably, won at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Nov beating Bradesco (8-7) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Golden Twilight (IRE) 5-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to dispute 2f out, narrow lead 1 1/2f out, kept on well under pressure, strongly pressed inside final furlong, all out, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov beating Hurricane Alex (10-0) by nk, 14 ran.
Pachmena (IRE) 9-1 (9-13) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and headway between horses under 2f out, 7th and ridden over 1f out, went 3rd 100 yards out, kept on well, 3rd of 20, 1/2l behind Tudor City (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
Advanced Virgo (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Towards rear, closer in mid-division 5 out, headway chasing leaders 3 out, weakened between last two, 12th of 19, 15 1/4l behind West Cork (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Tudor City (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Always towards rear of mid-division, never on terms, last of 19, dist behind West Cork (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Bears Hug (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Broke well, soon tracked leader, 2nd halfway, strongly challenged leader 1 1/2f out, ridden to lead narrowly 1f out, kept on best under pressure, won at Dundalk 6f mdn pol in Oct beating Plezantlysurprised (9-7) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Dances With Stars (IRE) 15-8 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden to progress 2f out, closer in 6th 1 1/2f out, challenged 1f out, led final 150 yards and drifted left, kept on well close home, won at Dundalk 1m 4f mdn pol in Nov beating Seattle Creek (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Questionare 80-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 14th 3f out, ridden and no impression in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 6 1/4l behind Jason The Militant (9-8) at Naas 1m 4f lst stks (1) hvy in Oct.
