soon tracked leaders, 4th after halfway, effort straight, kept on same pace final furlong
soon mid-division, 10th after halfway, headway towards outer straight, ran on without threatening inside final furlong
led early, prominent, soon 3rd, led again over 2f out, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages
soon chased leaders, 6th after halfway, effort straight, kept on same pace final furlong
uneasy in stalls, soon mid-division, 9th after halfway, slightly impeded early straight and headway, ran on without threatening inside final furlong
soon chased leaders, 5th after halfway, effort straight, no extra final furlong
soon mid-division, 8th after halfway, headway on inner straight and soon challenged, no extra and one pace inside final furlong
a little slow into stride, towards rear, switched right early straight and some headway, kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon chased leaders, 7th after halfway, headway and effort straight, rider dropped whip inside final furlong, led and stayed on well closing stages
dwelt, soon in rear, kept on same pace straight
prominent, soon narrow leader, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
pushed along early, close up, effort straight, weakened over 1f out
waited with, soon towards rear, 11th after halfway, some headway straight and pushed along, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
HELEN DE POURTALES took the lead at this trip and stayed on strongly when scoring over a mile here last month and looks one to follow despite a 5lb rise. Never Back Down is slipping to a winnable mark and will have found 6f too short here last time while Dark Magic was only beaten a nose by Miss Cunning here in July before scoring at Leopardstown and the winner could boost the form in the previous race. Caesar's Comet has disappointed since scoring at Leopardstown in July but may do better now back on Polytrack despite not having won on the surface while his stablemate Billyfairplay is another to consider in an open handicap.
Able Jack 33-1 (10-2) Waited with, soon towards rear, 14th 3f out, headway and effort to chase leaders from 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 10th of 18, 9l behind Ramiro (9-10) at Curragh 7f hcp hvy in Aug.
Highly Approved (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Pushed along early and soon tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out and no impression in 4th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 6 3/4l behind Sure Cert (9-11) at Fairyhouse 7f hcp gd in Sep.
Never Back Down (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Prominent, effort straight, one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Arnhem (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Sep.
Shawaf 7-1 (9-9) Soon led, pressed and ridden under 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, dropped to 4th 1f out, kept on same pace to 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 5 1/4l behind Sindhia (9-2) at Dundalk 7f mdn pol in Oct.
Dark Magic 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden towards outer and no impression 2f out, soon no extra, 13th of 18, 7 1/4l behind Roving Mission (10-1) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Aug.
Characteristic (IRE) 50-1 (10-2) Soon mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, soon headway, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Lady Savanah (8-10) at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Fit For Function 15-2 (9-12) Soon chased leaders, effort straight, no impression and slightly impeded inside final furlong, 10th of 14, 7 3/4l behind Arnhem (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Sep.
Caesar's Comet (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along early straight, ridden and some headway in rear of mid-division 1f out, kept on one pace, never a factor, 10th of 16, 9 3/4l behind Sure Cert (9-11) at Fairyhouse 7f hcp gd in Sep.
Chasing The Dawn (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Waited with, soon towards rear, closed behind horses straight, soon switched right and one pace, 7th of 10, 15 1/2l behind Mccabe (9-4) at Cork 1m hcp gd in Sep.
Helen De Pourtales (IRE) 13-2 (9-13) Soon chased leaders, ridden to dispute 2f out, led final 150 yards, kept on well under pressure, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Sep beating Time And Money (9-11) by nk, 14 ran.
Offline (IRE) 66-1 (9-10) Mid-division on outer, pushed along and no impression 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 11th of 16, 10l behind Sure Cert (9-11) at Fairyhouse 7f hcp gd in Sep.
Princess Xena 125-1 (8-9) Mid-division, under pressure and reminder 2 1/2f out, soon weakened quickly, eased 1 1/2f out, last of 16, dist behind Pearls Galore (9-8) at Cork 7f hcp fll gd in Aug.
Feel Good Factor 50-1 (8-13) Led until over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 8l behind Old News (9-7) at Salisbury 7f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Sasvana 16-1 (9-3) Slowly away, soon chased leader, under pressure halfway, lost place and ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 14, 9 1/2l behind Elzaamone (8-12) at Curragh 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Billyfairplay (IRE) 3-1fav (10-0) Pushed along early and tracked leaders, mid-division halfway, ridden and no impression on outer early straight, moderate 7th 1f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 12, 8 1/4l behind That's Not Me (10-2) at Fairyhouse 6f hcp gd in Sep.
Crystal Dawn (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Towards rear, some headway early straight, 5th and ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace on inner inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2l behind That's Not Me (10-2) at Fairyhouse 6f hcp gd in Sep.
Speckled Meadow (IRE) 100-1 (9-2) Dwelt and reared slightly leaving stalls, raced in rear, 13th 3f out, soon under pressure and ridden, weakened and detached 1 1/2f out, never a factor, last of 13, 14 1/2l behind Sindhia (9-2) at Dundalk 7f mdn pol in Oct.
