took keen hold towards rear on outer, pushed along over 2f out, no impression when pulled up injured over 1f out
led, strongly pressed and headed early straight, driven along in 4th 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra early final furlong, weakened
towards rear, some headway 2f out, kept on without threatening
mid-division, driven along on outer from 2f out, no extra from 1f out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, weakened
mid-division on inner, went 5th early straight, switched right 2f out, soon ridden, kept on well inside final furlong without troubling leaders
settled in rear, 14th entering straight, headway on outer from 2f out, went 7th inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden early straight, no extra under 2f out, soon weakened and eased
rear of mid-division, 10th entering straight, short of room 2f out, some headway when checked inside final furlong, kept on
never a factor
mid-division, 8th early straight, went 6th over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, went 2nd 2f out, challenged from over 1f out, led inside final furlong and kept on well
always prominent, 2nd halfway, headway to lead early straight, strongly pressed over 1f out, headed under pressure inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Opening Nite, King's Bastion and Scary Movie were separated by only a half-a-length when filling the first three places over C&D last month. It's pure guesswork as to who will come out best today especially as fifth-placed Mount Abora, the first reserve today, also has decent claims if getting a run. Slade and Snap Alam can be given a chance on their best form on turf and Intyre Trail has been in fine form, but the vote goes to the unexposed IMAGINATION. A runner-up here on his debut, he got off the mark in a maiden at Wolverhampton in November with a couple of subsequent winners behind and Richard Brabazon's charge looks on a fair mark for his handicap debut.
Avanti Albert (IRE) 9-2fav (9-6) Held up, 7th halfway, ridden in 6th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 8, 11l behind Maximo (8-12) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 60-90 pol.
Slade (IRE) 4-1fav (9-8) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, ridden early straight and no extra from well over 1f out, 11th of 14, 9l behind West Coast Dream (8-9) at Leopardstown 7f Handicap (50-85) (4yo+) in Mar.
Snap Alam (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden in 6th entering straight, no impression, 7th of 12, 15l behind Rare Symphony (8-13) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp 60-95 3yo in Sep.
Sugar Baby Love (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Always behind, 13th of 14, 32l behind Denny Crane (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 4f 3yo stks pol in Nov.
Scary Movie (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, 6th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, 7th of 12, 14l behind Park Ranger (9-2) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp 50-85 sft.
King's Bastion (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Towards rear early, soon close up, 4th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, 9th of 12, 16l behind Park Ranger (9-2) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp 50-85 sft.
Opening Nite (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway in 9th 2f out, ridden into 4th 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to lead last strides, won at Dundalk 1m hcp 50-75 pol in Mar beating King's Bastion (9-6) by hd, 13 ran.
Saint By Day (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Held up, 5th on inner travelling well early straight, ridden over 1f out and not find as much as expected, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind London Bridge (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 50-80 pol in Dec.
John Veale (USA) 14-1 (8-12) Prominent in chasing group, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 18l behind Eastern Gift (8-11) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Imagination (IRE) 1-2fav (8-12) Led 1f, tracked leader and keen, led over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Albertus Pictor (9-3) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Haaf Ok 14-1 (10-11) Prominent, weakened after halfway, eased when beaten final furlong, last of 10, 24l behind Hello Man (10-1) at Laytown 6f hcp 50-70 in Sep.
Intyre Trail (IRE) 11-4 (8-9) Tracked leading trio over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, led over 1f out, soon headed, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 6l behind Steed (9-1) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-80 (4) fbs in Feb.
Final Recovery 12-1 (8-8) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 13l behind Imperial Rome (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 3yo hcp pol.
Duke Of Rutherford (USA) 14-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, headway into 4th 2f out, ridden in 3rd and no impression leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 20, 8l behind Creekside (9-5) at Naas 1m 3yo mdn aut.
Mount Abora (IRE) 6-1 (9-8) Settled in rear, 15th entering straight, good headway on inner into 5th 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, kept on well to lead closing stages, won at Cork 1m app hcp 47-60 gd beating Silly Dancer (9-9) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Whiteball Wonder (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Mid-division, weakened from 3f out, 14th of 15, 24l behind Maal (9-10) at Limerick 1m hcp 50-80 sft.
Shemovedthuthefair (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, last of 16, 30l behind Jedward (9-0) at Navan 5f mdn stks in Oct.
