in rear, pushed along 9th, ridden in 6th before last, no impression, tailed off
prominent on outer, mistake 4 out, disputed lead 3 out, ridden next, headed at last, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 4th close home
tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
rear of mid-division, pushed along 5th, not fluent 8th, ridden in 8th before 2 out, weakened, tailed off
always towards rear, mistake 11th, ridden before 3 out, weakened, pulled up before 2 out
led, joined 3 out, ridden next, mistake and headed at last, no extra run-in
mid-division, closer in 3rd at 11th, improved to dispute lead 2 out, soon ridden, led at last, briefly edged left early flat, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, all out close home
prominent, dropped to 4th at 6th, 5th 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, 4th at last, improved into 2nd and switched right inside final furlong, stayed on well to strongly press winner to line
mid-division on inner, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, 5th at last, kept on without threatening to go 3rd close home
NonRunner
WHERE'S FRANKIE (NAP) completed a hat-trick here early last year and was returning from a very long break over a trip short of his best when four lengths behind today's rival So Des Flos on a return visit a fortnight ago. That should have sharpened him up and he can continue his fine form on this track. Potters Party stepped up to this trip here last month and showed his stamina in testing conditions to gain a convincing victory. He makes his handicap debut and has to concede the selection 17lb which looks tough. Clonmeen was beaten a length over the track and trip before going one better last month though is 9lb higher but Positive Thinker arrives in fine form having won over hurdles and fences in recent weeks.
Ex Patriot (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Disputed lead early, headed 2nd and raced 2nd, not fluent and ridden at 5th, soon lost place, dropped to rear 4 out, pulled up before next, at Gowran Park 2m hcp hvy in Nov.
So Des Flos (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead from 4th, headed 8th, mistake 4 out, went 2nd and pushed along entering straight, disputed lead from 2 out, stayed on well run-in, led close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp sft in Dec beating Sweet Will (10-13) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Everglow 22-1 (10-5) Towards rear, ridden 17th, 10th 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, 5th of 18, 23 1/2l behind Street Value (10-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 6f hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Potters Party (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, went 2nd travelling easily 3 out, headway to lead before 2 out, ridden and mistake last, soon asserted and kept on well, won at Fairyhouse 3m hvy in Nov beating Sainte Dona (11-5) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.
Temptationinmilan (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, jumped big 5th, pushed along and no impression when slightly hampered 3 out, kept on one pace without threatening, never a factor, 11th of 17, 32 3/4l behind Como Park (11-11) at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Old Soul (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Led or disputed lead, led after 3 out, pushed along early run-in, ridden and headed over 100 yards out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Natural Look (11-3) at Galway 2m 7f hcp hvy in Oct.
Emancipator (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, slight mistakes 2nd and 6th, 3rd halfway, 4th 3 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, 5th and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Natural Look (11-3) at Galway 2m 7f hcp hvy in Oct.
Positive Thinker (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Led narrowly, disputed lead at 1st, led at 3rd, headed before 4th, 3rd at 5th, 4th after 6th, improved to 3rd after 8th, led 2 out, joined last where pecked and dropped to 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Union Park (10-5) at Cork 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
Where's Frankie (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, dropped to 6th at 9th, pushed along in 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, went 3rd and mistake at last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 4l behind So Des Flos (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp sft in Dec.
Clonmeen (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, 8th when not fluent at last (usual 4 out), ridden in 6th 3f out, under pressure in 3rd when switched left over 1f out, 2nd and challenged 1f out, led final 100 yards, stayed on well, won at Down Royal 3m hcp sft in Nov beating Cave Court (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
