dwelt, soon mid-division, ridden in 6th 2f out, headway into 3rd 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to lead close home
chased leaders, ridden in 5th 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon weakened
dwelt, rear of mid-division, ridden in 8th on outer 2f out, no impression
mid-division on outer, ridden in 9th on outer 2f out, soon no impression
mid-division, progress 3f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, improved to lead 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed and no extra close home, dropped to close 3rd near line
chased leaders on outer, improved to dispute lead halfway, ridden and headed narrowly 2f out, dropped to 3rd under 1f out, stayed on well close home and regained 2nd near line, pressed winner to line
led, joined halfway, ridden and led 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, soon no extra
mid-division on inner, ridden entering straight, soon weakened
dwelt, always towards rear, no impression from 3f out, never a factor
slowly into stride and held up in rear, ridden in moderate 11th 2f out, 9th 1f out, kept on without threatening to go 4th close home, never nearer
slowly away and always behind, no impression from halfway, never a factor
dwelt, towards rear, no impression from 3f out, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon no impression
Hatton Cross made his debut here in 2012 but hasn't raced on the surface subsequently. But he's been in fine form on Turf and is only 4lb higher than when beating a big field at Naas. Future Icon is still a maiden and has never run here and nor has Zakhrafa, but the latter is lightly-raced and was unlucky in-running when second over 5f at Cork. The latter remark also applies to CLEAR FOCUS, who was just beginning her run when given a hefty bump. She had been disqualified after finishing first past the post at the Curragh earlier and hopefully will have a change of fortune. Tithonus has run well over hurdles this month while the veteran Tsar Paul has won four times around here and can never be discounted from a lowly mark.
Hatton Cross (IRE) 5-1fav (9-9) Chased leaders on stands' side, 9th halfway, soon ridden, 8th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 19, at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Oct.
Bob's The Business (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Soon led and clear from over halfway, reduced advantage from under 2f out, headed under 1f out and weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 15, 8 1/4l behind No Way Jack (8-13) at Limerick 7f hcp sft in Oct.
Future Icon 11-4fav (9-0) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, no impression in 4th over 1f out, weakened, 5th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Compass Hill (9-5) at Cork 6f mdn sft in Sep.
National Service (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Very slowly into stride, in rear and pushed along, still towards rear and under pressure from halfway, 9th 1f out, kept on, 7th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Daisy Bell (9-7) at Navan 5f hcp gd in Oct.
Zakhrafa (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, pushed along and no impression in 12th 1f out, ridden and rapid progress inside final furlong, not clear run over 50 yards out, kept on well to go 2nd on line, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Well Done Me (9-11) at Cork 5f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Miss Temple (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden in moderate 4th entering straight, soon no impression, 6th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Badger Daly (9-0) at Gowran Park 7f hcp gd in Oct.
Tithonus (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, closer in 6th halfway, dropped towards rear before straight, ridden into 7th 2 out, stayed on in 5th approaching last, kept on run-in into 2nd, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Hatch Hall (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn gd in Oct.
Clear Focus (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, 6th 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, bumped by rival under 100 yards out, kept on one pace, 7th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Well Done Me (9-11) at Cork 5f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Elusive Sally (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Mid-division on outer, ridden 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out, last of 17, 14 1/4l behind Battleroftheboyne (9-5) at Navan 5f hcp gf in May.
Pierre D'or (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Prominent in far side group, ridden from 2f out, 8th when lost stride inside final furlong and soon eased, 10th of 16, 6 3/4l behind Barbeque (9-4) at Cork 6f hcp gd in Aug.
Tsar Paul (IRE) 33-1 (8-6) Towards rear on far side, 15th halfway, soon ridden, progress 2f out, went 5th 1f out, kept on well final furlong. never nearer, 3rd of 19, at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Oct.
Ace Of Arts (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, 5th early, no extra from over 1f out, eased final furlong, 16th of 17, 19 3/4l behind Louis Leroy (9-3) at Naas 6f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Our Man Phil (IRE) 25-1 (8-5) Slightly awkward leaving stalls, 12th early, no impression from 2f out, no extra and eased closing stages, 12th of 17, 13 1/4l behind Louis Leroy (9-3) at Naas 6f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Shinyhappyjohn 33-1 (9-7) Raced in 14th early, pushed along before halfway, no impression 2f out, no extra and eased final furlong, 19th of 20, 27 1/2l behind Hatton Cross (9-6) at Naas 6f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Catwilldo (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Towards rear, pushed along and no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Well Done Me (9-11) at Cork 5f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Captain Midnight (IRE) 9-4fav (10-3) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, switched right over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 6th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Bussa (10-3) at Laytown 7f pol in Sep.
My Princess Emma (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, ridden under 2f out and no impression in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Coreczka (8-8) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
