made all, clear early, reduced advantage from halfway, ridden clear again from 1 1/2f out, stayed on well, comfortably
moderate 2nd, closer 3rd halfway, 2nd and ridden straight, kept on same pace from 1 1/2f out
held up in rear, took closer order halfway, 3rd and effort on inner entering straight, 2nd briefly over 1f out, one pace
moderate 3rd, improved into close 2nd halfway, driven along 3f out, dropped to rear entering straight, one pace
PIRES scored over hurdles at Bellewstown in August before a superb effort in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket when third to Credit Swap. He was a little disappointing at Wolverhampton last time but should prove too good for these. Bravely Fought is useful on his day as he showed when landing a Cork handicap off 96 in April. He's been a little out of form recently and has to concede weight to a decent opponent here. Elusive Ridge and Westtower Boy didn't disgrace themselves behind Home Secretary here on Sunday and both had won earlier on the track.
Elusive Ridge (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Close up in 2nd, ridden to lead 2f out, headed 1f out, soon no extra, 4th of 9, 6l behind Home Secretary (8-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol.
Bravely Fought (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Led, joined halfway, led again over 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 12, 6l behind Super Say (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 1f App hcp gf in Oct.
Westtower Boy (IRE) 7-2fav (8-8) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression straight, one pace, 7th of 9, 11l behind Home Secretary (8-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol.
Pires 6-5fav (9-3) Held up in 5th, headway on outside 2f out, chased leading pair well over 1f out, ridden and hung left inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Tominator (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Agent Of Change (USA) 16-1 (9-1) Always towards rear, last of 14, 28l behind Hawkhill (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m hcp 60-90 in Sep.