held up in last, off pace at 4th, headway into 6th 3 out, 5th next, soon ridden, no impression in 4th when fell at last
led, headed at 4th, ridden in 5th 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up in 6th on outer, slight mistake 2nd, headway into 3rd 3 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, 3rd at last, no extra run-in
tracked leaders, slight mistake at 5th and dropped to 5th, went 3rd entering straight, soon ridden, 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders on inner, pushed along at 5th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader in 2nd, led from 4th, ridden entering straight, headed 2 out, soon no impression
tracked leaders on outer, closer in 2nd at halfway, ridden to lead 2 out, mistake at last, stayed on well run-in
The four-year-old Quantatmental, three times a winner on the Flat, has run better than his form figures suggest and is respected with his allowance. He was behind fellow youngster Stormy Tale last time but there may not be much between them here. Mandarin Monarch dead-heated in a handicap here in October then battled to victory in a novices' hurdle at Wexford. The conditions are in his favour and he still looks reasonably treated. Bold Gesture didn't appear to take to soft ground at Tramore after a better run on this sort of going at Naas but Lucky Icon hasn't progressed as expected after a winning debut over timber at Ballinrobe. THE LONG MILE has only had three runs and shown enough to suggest a race of this nature should be within his capabilities to gets the vote in a tricky heat.
Lucky Icon (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Led, not fluent 2nd, again not fluent 5 out, joined 2 out and soon ridden, headed before last where mistake, soon no extra and weakened to 6th run-in, 6th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Whatsafellatodo (11-3) at Galway 2m 1f Yielding in Oct.
Bold Gesture (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, slight mistake next, one pace from 2 out, not fluent last, 5th of 15, 20 1/4l behind Notebook (11-4) at Tramore 2m mdn sft in Jan.
Mandarin Monarch (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, disputed 3rd from 5 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, mistake 2 out, stayed on to press leader run-in, led last strides, won at Wexford 2m Yielding in Oct beating Jan Maat (11-10) by nk, 7 ran.
The Long Mile 11-4 (11-10) Waited with, some slight mistakes, 9th at 6th, went 4th before straight, one pace from before 2 out, 4th of 16, 15 1/2l behind Capuccimix (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Jan.
Big Ego 10-1 (8-11) Edged left leaving stalls and bumped rival, prominent, on terms under 4f out, headed into straight, soon no extra, 10th of 18, 8 3/4l behind Phebes Dream (8-10) at Galway 1m 4f hcp sft in Oct.
Stormy Tale (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outer, 7th 3 out, 6th on inner when sightly hampered after 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 24, 10l behind Konitho (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn Yielding in Jan.
Quantatmental (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, some progress entering straight, moderate 12th 2 out, kept on without threatening, 7th of 24, 19 1/2l behind Konitho (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn Yielding in Jan.
Diamond Kut 33-1 (11-12) Led, headed 3 out, ridden in 3rd next, moderate 5th before last, no impression, 4th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Milliner (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn gd in Oct.
