soon mid-division, closer in 5th before straight, 4th under 2f out, 2nd and challenged under 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace closing stages
always towards rear, no impression from over 1f out
reared up leaving stalls, soon led, headed and dropped to 5th under 2f out, 7th and no impression from 1f out
soon mid-division, 6th under 2f out, closed to chase leaders 1f out, kept on same pace closing stages
prominent, 3rd and pushed along before straight, on terms under 2f out, dropped to 4th 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong
always towards rear, no impression from over 1f out
tracked leaders, 4th on outer into straight, on terms from under 2f out, gained narrow lead from under 1f out, stayed on well closing stages
soon towards rear, ridden approaching straight, 7th under 2f out, 6th 1f out, ran on without threatening on outer inside final furlong
dwelt and pushed along, soon tracked leaders, 2nd before straight, 3rd under 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong
Cool Athlete gained his fifth victory on the track last week and though he's never won from a mark this high he can still get involved. Cash Or Casualty landed a Listowel handicap off a mark of 85 in September so looks well enough treated though he folded tamely when headed three weeks ago. Iron Major has scored from a higher mark than this in the past and has run well enough in his last two starts to be considered. He had Victor's Beach well behind last time but had earlier been beaten by AKASAKA and Robbie Downey's claim can help the latter return to winning ways after a close third to Captain Cullen a fortnight ago. Equation Of Time has been racing over much further but won on the track the last time he raced over this trip though he's 9lb higher. Golden Shoe looked ready to win soon when beaten a head by Queen Of The Sand in November but ran poorly a month ago while Billyford returns from a short break and could just need the run.
Akasaka (IRE) 9-2fav (9-13) Prominent, ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon dropped to 3rd and no extra close home, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Captain Cullen (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Jan.
Billyford (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Chased leaders and 4th halfway, no extra early straight, eased final furlong, last of 4, 12l behind Regulation (9-7) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Cash Or Casualty (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Soon led, ridden entering straight and headed under 2f out, soon no extra, 5th of 6, 8l behind Maontri (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcap pol in Jan.
Iron Major (IRE) 9-2fav (9-0) Rear of mid-division, ridden in 8th over 2f out, went 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Captain Cullen (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Jan.
Golden Shoe (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden entering straight, went 2nd 2f out, soon no impression, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 13l behind Deep Speed (9-0) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Jan.
Victor's Beach (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Chased leaders on inner, ridden entering straight, 6th 2f out, no impression, 9th of 10, 5l behind Captain Cullen (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Jan.
Equation Of Time 6-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden entering straight, close up on inner 2f out, close 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Gretzky (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcap pol in Jan.
Cool Athlete (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden in 7th and switched to outer 2f out, went 3rd 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, led line, won at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Jan beating The Black Devil (9-4) by ns, 12 ran.
Shabra Emperor (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Dwelt and in rear, ridden in last on outer 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Cool Athlete (9-6) at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Jan.
