in rear, ridden entering straight, no impression from 1 1/2f out
mid-division, 7th entering straight, soon ridden, kept on from 1 1/2f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on final furlong
prominent, ridden in 3rd 2f out, soon no impression
rear of mid-division, no impression from 2f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened
prominent, led over 2f out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
mid-division, progress 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong
in rear, last and short of room briefly 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on on outer final furlong, never nearer
always towards rear
mid-division on outer, ridden and weakened from 2f out
Longfield Lad steps up in trip off a 5lb higher mark having won over 6f here three weeks ago while Versilia Gal looks to be treading water off her current mark but Sherzam has decent claims on her Polytrack debut with an apprentice taking 7lb off her back and Merciful Hour posted a much better effort over a mile here last time. Toccata Blue has gone backwards since his promising debut at this track back in March, however, and preference is for ZAINDA. She's shown steady if unspectacular progress in maidens culminating in a sixth over C&D a week ago and is taken to make a winning handicap debut.
Versilia Gal (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Towards rear, kept on same pace under pressure from 2f out, 7th of 8, 7l behind Harley's Harley (9-5) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo hcp sft in Oct.
Sherzam 3-1fav (9-7) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Horizon Sky (9-10) at Gowran Park 7f 2yo hcp gs in Sep.
Toccata Blue (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Soon raced in 5th, no extra under pressure and kept on same pace straight, 7th of 8, 12l behind Hard Core Debt (9-2) at Sligo 6f 2yo mdn aut gs in Jun.
Longfield Lad (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Soon led, pressed from 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol in Nov beating Moss Top (9-8) by hd, 13 ran.
Sword Of Light (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Mid-division, 7th over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind Abstraction (9-2) at Dundalk 5f 2yo mdn stks pol in Nov.
Merciful Hour (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Soon led, headed and kept on same pace from under 1f out, 5th of 14, 4l behind Levanto (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn stks pol in Nov.
Zainda (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Soon chased leaders, 6th approaching straight, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Queen Of The Sand (9-0) at Dundalk 7f 2yo mdn fll auc stks pol in Nov.
Victor's Beach (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Towards rear, progress 2f out, kept on without threatening under pressure from over 1f out, 6th of 13, 4l behind Longfield Lad (9-10) at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol in Nov.
Desiderata (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, still travelling well over 2f out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 8th of 13, 7l behind Longfield Lad (9-10) at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol in Nov.
Cobblers Cove (USA) 50-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, 11th of 14, 9l behind Abstraction (9-2) at Dundalk 5f 2yo mdn stks pol in Nov.
Tale Of Fame (ITY) 33-1 (9-5) Prominent, close 2nd halfway, ridden 2 1/2f out, weakened, 5th of 6, 15l behind Kingdom (9-5) at Curragh 7f 2yo mdn hvy in Oct.
