slowly into stride and always behind
held up, smooth headway entering straight, challenged travelling best 2f out, led 1f out, kept on well, easily
mid-division, switched right and ridden early straight, went 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace without threatening leaders
rear of mid-division, 6th 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, kept on one pace
rear of mid-division on inner, pushed along entering straight, moderate 7th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leaders on inner, good headway to lead halfway, strongly pressed and headed 2f out, no extra in 4th early final furlong
mid-division, 6th approaching straight, ridden in 5th 2f out, no extra from over 1f out
always prominent, 3rd halfway, ridden to lead 2f out, soon strongly pressed and headed 1f out, kept on same pace but no chance with easy winner
led, headed halfway, no extra from early straight, weakened
chased leaders, 4th halfway, no extra from 2f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong
GOLD MIRAGE makes plenty of appeal. Jim Bolger's filly has shown promise on both starts, including her debut at this track, and the daughter of Galileo has scope for lots more improvement. She's fancied to turn the tables with Hired Hand, who finished in front of her at Limerick last time, while Swing Pattern continues to run well without winning but looks flattered by his fifth in a Group 3 race here in October. Honest And True looks the best of Michael Grassick's duo but his yard's poor strike rate on this surface is off-putting and Confidence could prove a bigger threat.
Brian The Warrior (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Soon mid-division, no impression from 5f out, 13th of 17, 35l behind Miss Nomer (10-9) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo nhf gd.
Confidence (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and in touch early straight, no impression from over 1f out, 7th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Blue Ridge Lane (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f 4yo stk pol.
Hired Hand (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride and in rear, progress on outer into mid-division 5f out, moderate 7th entering straight, ridden in 7th 1 1/2f out, stayed on strongly to go 2nd inside final furlong, never nearer, 2nd of 15, hd behind Captainofthefleet (9-7) at Limerick 1m 3f mdn stks sft.
Honest And True (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway in 7th 2f out, ridden into moderate 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong to go 3rd, no impression leaders, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Stephen's Green (9-7) at Dundalk 1m mdn stks pol.
Kalamagdan (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Mid-division, no impression and kept on same pace from over 4f out, 9th of 19, 28l behind Jenari (11-2) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo nhf gd.
Swing Pattern (USA) 2-1fav (9-7) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead over 1 1/2f out, soon challenged, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Stephen's Green (9-7) at Dundalk 1m mdn stks pol.
Yellow Rock (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra entering straight, 9th of 14, 14l behind Stephen's Green (9-7) at Dundalk 1m mdn stks pol.
Gold Mirage (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 3f out, no impression from 2f out, checked slightly over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 15, 1 1/2l behind Captainofthefleet (9-7) at Limerick 1m 3f mdn stks sft.
Lilly The Lioness (IRE) 50-1 (9-2) Led, ridden entering straight, headed over 2f out, weakened, 8th of 15, 11l behind Captainofthefleet (9-7) at Limerick 1m 3f mdn stks sft.
Truly Magnificent (USA) 25-1 (8-9) Mid-division on inside, lost place 5f out, soon behind, 9th of 10, 27l behind Odin's Raven (9-7) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fbs in Jan.
