bumped slightly start, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along 4f out, headway towards outer approaching straight, on terms over 2f out, soon led, headed 1f out, one pace inside final furlong
in rear, pushed along after halfway, ridden to chase leaders straight, 4th and no impression 1f out, kept on same pace
dwelt and bumped rival start, towards rear early, soon chased leaders on outer, 6th halfway, closed up over 6f out, soon pushed along, on terms over 2f out, soon headed, dropped to 6th 1f out, no extra and eased well inside final furlong
soon chased leaders, 7th halfway, 5th 1f out and no impression, kept on same pace
pushed along briefly early, towards rear, 11th halfway, raced on outer straight, no impression over 2f out, 8th 1f out, one pace
soon chased leaders in 3rd, closer in 2nd after halfway, on terms over 4f out, headed over 2f out, soon no extra and eased inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, 9th halfway, progress approaching straight, ridden to challenge under 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on well
soon led, a little keen, soon clear, reduced lead halfway, joined over 4f out, headed into straight, weakened and eased 1f out
soon chased leaders, 8th halfway, no impression from 2f out, 7th 1f out, one pace
towards rear, 10th halfway, no impression over 2f out
soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along 6f out, no impression over 2f out, no extra
soon chased leader, closer order but 3rd after halfway, still 3rd 1f out, 2nd closing stages and kept on without matching winner
Manuka scored over hurdles in October and at around this trip at Wolverhampton the following month. He's only 2lb higher so looks to have a fair chance of carrying his big weight to victory. It's very rare to find one of Aidan O'Brien's at the bottom of a handicap but Absorbing has run 16 times and only been placed once. Winning bumper Swift Harry would have finished much closer here last week but for being impeded at a crucial stage but Maple Hill was disappointing in the same event after a close third a couple of weeks earlier. Alert showed the occasional glimmer of ability in the UK without winning but LOYALTY CARD (NAP) could be the one to be on. She won over 1m2f here last February and scored over hurdles in September. Her last two runs over 1m4f have proved too short so this looks within her capabilities.
Manuka (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress after 4 out and 3rd next, not fluent 2 out, ridden and no impression last where left 2nd, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 4 3/4l behind Theo (11-2) at Down Royal 2m 3f hcp sft in Mar.
Loyalty Card (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Dwelt and soon trailing in rear, pushed along before halfway, in touch with field in last 3f out, ridden on outer entering straight, went moderate 8th 1f out, kept on without threatening, 5th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Shake The Bucket (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Apr.
Swift Harry 7-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division on inner, progress entering straight, short of room briefly on inner 2f out, soon ridden and no extra, 7th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Shake The Bucket (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Apr.
Alert 7-1 (10-3) Raced wide, held up, headway 8f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, not trouble leaders, 6th of 12, 14l behind With Hindsight (11-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Black Spot On (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, no extra and blundered 2 out, weakened, 13th of 19, dist behind Just Cause (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Sea Bank 10-1 (9-0) Prominent and led after 2f, headed after 5f, ridden and dropped to 6th entering straight, no extra under 2f out, 10th of 14, 19 1/2l behind Temasek Star (9-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Feb.
Danequest (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) Mid-division, 11th halfway, pushed along and no impression under 2f out, no extra, 8th of 18, 17 1/4l behind Athloman Cottage (8-10) at Cork 1m hcp hvy in Mar.
Dixie Highway (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, 14th halfway, no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 10th of 18, 20l behind Athloman Cottage (8-10) at Cork 1m hcp hvy in Mar.
Esharaat (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Mid-division, 9th 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, 11th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Tortueuse (8-10) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.
Hoodoo Brown 33-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, 12th halfway, some progress after 3 out and 7th next, went 3rd and ridden entering straight, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 15, 7 1/2l behind Maighnealta (11-2) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in Mar.
Maple Hill (GER) 10-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 5th 3f out, ridden in 6th 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, 17 1/4l behind Shake The Bucket (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Apr.
Absorbing (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden entering straight, disputed lead briefly 2f out, soon weakened quickly, 11th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Shake The Bucket (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Apr.
