chased leaders in 4th, took keen hold, 3rd 4f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, soon strongly pressed, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
led, ridden 3f out, headed entering straight, no impression from 2f out
rear of mid-division early, mid-division halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders
mid-division, ridden in 6th entering straight, moderate 5th 1f out, no impression
chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead entering straight, ridden on inner and headed 1 1/2f out, rallied well to regain lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
dwelt, in rear, ridden entering straight, no impression
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened from 4f out
Official ratings suggest few will get into this. Corker Hill scored over the course and distance a year ago when rated just 60 but was 14lb higher when landing a handicap at the Curragh in June. He should get into the frame but SHUKHOV looks the one to be on. He had a very poor run during the summer and was down to 49 when scoring over track and trip in November. He won again last month and is now 20lb higher than his earlier victory but looks in the best form of those with prospects. Long Journey Home gained the only victory of his career on an artificial surface when scoring here in October but ran poorly on his next two starts the following month. Elusive Gent is consistent enough but has had 15 starts on the all-weather and never won.
Corker Hill (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden entering straight, 9th 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Poitin (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan.
Preservation Hall (IRE) Nayef gelding out of Opera.
Elusive Gent (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Son led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Henpecked (9-9) at Ayr 1m 2f hcp (6) gs in Aug.
Shukhov (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden in 4th under 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 6th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Wither Hills (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f pol in Feb.
Stoichkhov (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Towards rear, 13th halfway, never a factor, pushed along under 2f out, no impression 1f out, kept on one pace, 11th of 14, 8 3/4l behind Manorov (9-10) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Long Journey Home (IRE) 25-1 (9-8) Led, pushed along before straight, soon joined, headed from 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 8th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Political Policy (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
General Bunching (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 6th on inner halfway, ridden and no impression in 7th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 11th of 13, 12 1/2l behind Alnahar (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan.
Victor's Beach (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon outpaced, 11th of 12, 30 3/4l behind Overrider (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (7) pol in Jan.
