held up towards rear, 11th halfway, no impression 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, never a factor
slowly away, raced in rear, 12th halfway, no headway, never a factor
soon tracked leader, dropped to 4th over 3f out, progress 1 1/2f out, ridden and closed 1f out, led briefly under 1f out, headed final 150 yards, kept on
soon led, edged right and strongly pressed over 1f out, soon ridden, headed under 1f out, no extra closing stages
reared slightly leaving stalls, soon rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, under pressure 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression final furlong
rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, headway over 1f out, ridden under 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
close up and ran freely early, dropped to 5th over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right and kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division on inner, 7th halfway, headway on inner 1 1/2f out, ridden and closed 1f out, led narrowly final 150 yards, ran on well
chased leader, headway on outer over 3f out, travelled well over 2f out, ridden and headway 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
mid-division, 6th halfway, progress on outer and ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, never nearer
in touch, progress over 3f out, lost place 1 1/2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, raced towards rear, 10th halfway, came wide entering straight, ridden and kept on final furlong, no danger
Many of these arrive in excellent form including Master Matt, who had Earls, ALFREDO ARCANO, Independent Missy and Sendmylovetoyou all close up behind when gaining his first success on the track a fortnight ago. There's very little between any of that quintet but Alfredo Arcano, who has won this for the past two years, looks ready to strike again. War Hero gained his fifth course victory last month though that was over 7f but Big Gossey has generally performed at a higher level and is perfectly capable of getting involved from this sort of mark.
Shabaaby 25-1 (9-12) Very slowly away, recovered to rear over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders, last of 11, 9 3/4l behind Tranchee (8-13) at Doncaster 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Nordic Passage (IRE) 18-1 (9-7) Missed break, raced in rear, 12th halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never on terms, 9th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Harry's Bar (9-7) at Dundalk 6f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Inflection Point (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, challenged halfway, under pressure over 1f out, dropped to 3rd final 100 yards, kept on, not trouble principals, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Harry's Bar (9-7) at Dundalk 6f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Master Matt 3-1fav (10-0) Soon prominent in 2nd, effort straight, on terms over 1f out, soon led, joined inside final furlong, stayed on well closing stages to regain lead near line, won at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov beating Earls (9-1) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mr Kiki (IRE) 50-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd entering straight, soon ridden and lost place under 2f out, no extra final furlong, 8th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Settle For Bay (8-12) at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec.
Big Gossey (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and joined under 2f out, headed under 1f out, no extra, 6th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Earls (8-10) at Naas 5f hcp hvy in Nov.
Independent Missy (IRE) 13-2 (9-10) Chased leaders, 5th approaching halfway, soon pushed along, slightly impeded early straight, switched right closing stages and kept on without matching principals, 5th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Master Matt (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov.
Sendmylovetoyou (IRE) 10-3 (9-10) Mid-division, 8th approaching halfway, headway and effort straight, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Master Matt (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov.
War Hero (IRE) 5-1 (10-2) Chased leader in 2nd, travelling well 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov beating Tyrconnell (9-7) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Earls (IRE) 18-1 (9-1) Pushed along early, chased leaders, 6th approaching halfway, challenged and almost on terms 1 1/2f out, disputed lead inside final furlong, headed and kept on without matching winner near line, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Master Matt (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov.
Kuwait Direction (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Dwelt and pushed along briefly, waited with, 10th approaching halfway and pushed along again, raced on inner straight and headway, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 7th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Master Matt (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov.
Ola Bonita (IRE) 18-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, towards rear, pushed along 2f out, 8th and ridden on outer over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 4th close home, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Dandy Spirit (9-5) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Dec.
Alfredo Arcano (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Pushed along briefly early, prominent and led inside 1st 1f, pressed straight, joined over 1f out, soon headed and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Master Matt (10-0) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov.
