slightly awkward leaving stalls, held up, soon 8th, headway on inner approaching straight, not much room on rail and switched right 1 1/2f out, no impression 1f out, one pace
held up, soon 9th, headway towards outer under pressure 2f out, 2nd under 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on well, led close home
led, pushed along before straight, soon joined, headed from 2f out, no extra from over 1f out
soon raced in 6th, pushed along approaching straight, no impression from over 1f out, soon no extra
held up, soon 10th, not much room over 2f out, switched right to outer 1 1/2f out, 4th from 1f out, kept on well final furlong without reaching principals
prominent, soon 3rd, no impression from over 1f out, soon no extra
dwelt, pushed along, soon tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along again before straight, under pressure and slightly impeded 2f out, switched right, soon not much room again and no extra
dwelt, pushed along, soon tracked leaders in 5th, no extra from over 1f out
chased leaders, soon 7th, headway under pressure straight, 3rd from 1f out, slightly impeded inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner close home
loaded without rider, virtually refused to race, eventually set off completely tailed off, made contact with field over 5f out, pushed along from 4f out, no impression from before straight where raced wide, no extra from 2f out, eased, tailed off
Political Policy has had 35 starts in his career and never run beyond a mile though he wasn't stopping when scoring here on Friday and his 5lb penalty is offset by his young rider's claim. He holds fourth-placed Marise on that run but Melanna is highly regarded which is why she ran in a Listed contest here last month where she wasn't disgraced. She was heavily supported to lose her maiden tag earlier this month and duly obliged so can prove better than a 76-rated handicapper. However, JACOBS WELL looks the one to be on as he showed some promise on this track around this time a year ago and reappeared last month to land a Navan handicap. He very nearly defied a 5lb penalty in a big field at Leopardstown just four days later and will take some beating. Automated is rarely beaten far but is still a maiden after 16 starts but UK import Brosnan has done well for new connections and should give another good account after his victory here a fortnight ago.
Ebasani (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression and weakened from over 1f out, last of 9, 10 3/4l behind Long Journey Home (9-2) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Political Policy (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, 8th on outer halfway, progress in straight and ridden to lead 150 yards out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov beating Reckless Lad (9-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Long Journey Home (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and soon no extra, weakened, last of 11, 16 3/4l behind Political Policy (9-2) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.
Melanna (IRE) 5-4fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress to go 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Nov beating Eagle Valley (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Automated 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden and closer on outer 1 1/2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on into 3rd closing stages of final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Jan Van Eyck (8-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Marise (IRE) 4-1fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress into 2nd 2f out, ridden in 4th over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Political Policy (9-2) at Dundalk 1m pol in Nov.
Jacobs Well (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, 7th halfway, pushed along in 5th 2f out and ridden to go 2nd 1f out, under pressure and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Stronger Than Me (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Oct.
Specific Gravity (FR) 25-1 (9-6) Towards rear, ridden and closer 1 1/2f out, 7th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Jan Van Eyck (8-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Glassatura (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden into mid-division 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 10th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Jan Van Eyck (8-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Brosnan (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Held up, raced on outer straight, improved to challenge and get on terms 1f out, gained narrow lead inside final furlong, stayed on well to just prevail, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov beating Credit The Giver (9-10) by hd, 12 ran.
Attraction Ticket 33-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, slight mistake 1st, closed to challenge 3 out, still chasing leaders when mistake 2 out, weakened from before last, 12th of 19, 31l behind Ancient Sands (10-13) at Navan 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Nov.
