held up towards rear, headway into 10th 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, 4th 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, drifted left and led close home
led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra final furlong
chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in close 6th 1f out, kept on final furlong to challenge, just held
mid-division, ridden and no extra over 2f out
rear of mid-division, headway in 8th 2f out, soon hampered, ridden into close 5th 1f out, not clear run, just behind leaders when hampered close home
chased leader in 2nd, ridden in 3rd 1 1/2f out, challenged 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden in close 7th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace
reared leaving stalls, always towards rear
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra 1f out
held up towards rear, headway in 9th 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, closest at finish
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened entering straight
chased leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, strongly pressed final furlong, headed close home
Mr Pianist showed massive improvement when racing here for the first time at the backend of last year but has suffered in the weights as a consequence and is 10lb higher for beating Ionisphere in December. Isabellareine was one of the success stories of 2010 winning twice on the Flat and two hurdles from her last five starts. However, she improved when sent over further and this may prove on the short side though she did run well over the C&D earlier in the year. Time Travel comfortably landed a Wolverhampton handicap a fortnight ago and has fitness on his side though this is a much tougher assignment. KING OF ARAN deserves a change of fortune having been narrowly defeated on several occasions at this track. He appeared to improve throughout last year and looks well enough treated to gain his first success on the surface.
Hawk Flight (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, improved to chased leaders under 2f out, challenged 1 1/2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 7th of 14, 10l behind Solo Performer (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 60-90 pol in Nov.
King Of Aran (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Held up in touch, 8th on inner over 3f out, smooth headway early straight, improved into 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 13, hd behind Hawa Bali (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol in Dec.
Mr Pianist (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Made all, ridden clear early straight, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol in Dec beating Ionisphere (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Isabellareine (GER) 3-1 (9-2) Made all, ridden and challenged 2f out, kept on well under pressure from over 1f out, won at Tramore 2m hcp fm in Aug beating Grangeclare Gold (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Head Of The River (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden approaching straight, led 1f out, headed and dropped to 4th 150 yards from home, 4th of 12, 6l behind Ragged Staff (8-10) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcap gd in Jun '08.
Lynott (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Slow into stride, towards rear, headway on outer to track leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Dart (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Whiteball Wonder (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Held up, 10th halfway, progress early straight, 5th under pressure 1 1/2f out, kept on to go moderate 2nd close home, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Rambling Dancer (8-12) at Dundalk 1m 3yo stks pol in Dec.
Confidence (USA) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, went 3rd early straight, ridden to lead briefly under 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Zulu Principle (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn stks pol in Dec.
Pictorial (USA) 25-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out, 16th of 17, 29l behind Separate Ways (9-6) at Galway 1m hcp 60-90 gf in Jul.
Time Travel 12-1 (9-3) Not much room start, held up, headway on inside 2f out, led entering final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating The Blue Dog (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Hassanali (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden and progress 3f out, kept on same pace in moderate 4th from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 9l behind Solo Performer (9-5) at Down Royal 1m 2f hcp 50-80 fm in Jun.
Tajweed (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, 10th 3f out, ridden into 6th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind Try Freedom (8-7) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Dec.
Neon Tiger 10-1 (9-4) Always towards rear, no impression from over 2f out, 8th of 9, 12l behind Anna Montana (9-4) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f 3yo clm gd in Aug.
Horsewithnoname (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Took keen hold, prominent, hampered well over 1f out, not clear run entering final furlong, kept on sam pace, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Time Travel (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Bessie Lou (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, 6th halfway, headway into 4th 5f out, ridden in 3rd 3f out, no extra in 4th 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 10l behind Decoy Daddy (9-7) at Tramore 1m 6f mdn stks fm in Aug.
Sparring Partner (IRE) 5-1fav (8-10) Mid-division, headway into 5th 2f out, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on to 2nd closing stages, 3rd on line, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Try Freedom (8-7) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Dec.
Karlu (GER) 6-1 (9-10) Towards rear, pulled up 5f out, in a race won by Hill Fairy (8-12) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Aug '08, 19 ran.
