chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression in 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 6th over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
led, ridden and pressed 2f out, narrowly headed over 1f out, disputed again briefly inside final furlong, 2nd and no extra closing stages
chased leader, challenged 2f out, ridden to narrow lead over 1f out, disputed inside final furlong, headed final 100 yards, no extra in 3rd closing stages
dwelt and held up, 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
slowly into stride and rear, ridden and progress 1 1/2f out, 3rd 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, led last 100 yards and kept on well
held up, 5th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Political Policy has a tremendous record on the track though has been beaten 15 times here since scoring last January. He's reasonably consistent over longer trips but may not have the pace for this. Aussie Valentine has only had three starts around here, winning one and finishing a close second in another. He will have needed his run in December after a long break and has dropped to a fair mark. Dark Alliance was having his first start for Adrian Keatley when running moderately last month and though he'd won his previous start that was over 7f and he's only run over this trip once when well beaten. Shannon Soul won a two-year-old maiden here in 2014 but hasn't won subsequently and has been beaten off this mark in his last two starts. GEOLOGICAL landed a stronger handicap over the track and trip last month and did very well to finish runner-up over 6f three weeks ago so looks the one to be on, though Poetic Choice arrives in very good form and her only poor recent run came when sent over a longer trip.
Political Policy (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden under 2f out and no impression 150 yards out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Song Of Love (8-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Feb.
Aussie Valentine (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Disputed early, soon chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Red Avenger (8-4) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Dec.
Geological (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Patrick (9-7) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Feb.
Dark Alliance (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Towards rear, pushed along 2f out, soon no impression, never a factor, 8th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Grey Danube (10-1) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Jan.
Poetic Choice 9-2jfav (9-5) Rear of mid-division, 8th 3f out, ridden on outer 2f out, went 5th 1f out, kept on well final furlong, went 2nd near line, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Admodum (9-4) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Feb.
Shannon Soul (IRE) 9-2jfav (9-0) Slowly away and in rear, checked after 2f, ridden on outer 2f out, no impression, kept on without threatening final furlong, never a factor, 7th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Admodum (9-4) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Feb.
Coreczka (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Towards rear, 9th 3f out, soon ridden, 6th briefly 2f out, no impression, 8th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Admodum (9-4) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Feb.
Tribal Path (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Prominent, 3rd before halfway, soon pushed along, no extra from over 1f out, 13th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Shanghai Glory (9-5) at Curragh 6f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
