chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, 2nd over 1f out, pressed leader inside final furlong, no extra close home, just held 2nd
held up early, closer on outer after 3f, 3rd 3f out, ridden and no extra 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong
settled behind leaders, held up towards rear after 2f, ridden to progress 1 1/2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on to press leaders inside final furlong, just held for 2nd
slowly into stride and rear, closer on outer 2f out, ridden in 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra inside final furlong
CAPTAIN JOY won this a year ago and has such a brilliant record on the track that a repeat looks likely. The winner of half of his 16 starts here, he had a warm-up after a break last month and Tracey Collins will have him ready to gain victory number nine. Theobald looks an obvious threat as he finished a long way in front of him last time, though he had the benefit of race-fitness. Geological has little chance with the latter having been beaten over two lengths when third to him in November where he was receiving 15lb while Tony The Gent looks next best, though he was also behind in that contest and is badly in at the weights.
Captain Joy (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along into straight, lost place and no impression when edged right over 1f out, soon no extra, 6th of 8, 12l behind King's Field (9-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Descendant 33-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden under 2f out and no impression on inner 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Ahlan Bil Zain (9-6) at Dundalk 7f pol in Jan.
Geological (IRE) 9-2 (9-13) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden on inner over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Amanaat (9-8) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Jan.
Sevenleft (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Towards rear and 7th from halfway, ridden and dropped to rear from 3f out, no impression from 2f out and eased inside final furlong, last of 9, 30 3/4l behind Elm Grove (9-0) at Ballinrobe 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Theobald (IRE) 5-1 (9-8) Prominent, soon 2nd, no impression when switched left inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind King's Field (9-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Tony The Gent (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Waited with, soon 7th, pushed along into straight, soon progress and effort, slightly impeded and switched right inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 6 1/4l behind King's Field (9-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Twenty Minutes 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out and no impression in 3rd over 1f out, under pressure and no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Ciao (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Jan.
