IN EXCESS couldn't quite peg back Foxy Girl at Limerick on St Stephen's Day but was returning from a 20-month absence and with that under his belt can go one better. The winner's yard is represented by Sam Magee, a winner between the flags who has a stamina-packed pedigree and did well to finish around five lengths behind the winner over 2m4f at Down Royal. This could be on the short side, a remark that also applies to Abbeydale, beaten a neck over an extended 2m4f at Wexford. Coeur d'Or won over 7f on the beach at Laytown before a close third in a Curragh handicap on soft ground and looks a newcomer to note.
Coeur d'Or (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 8th 2f out, soon ridden, headway to lead 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd close home, 3rd of 19, 1/2l behind Loingseoir (9-11) at Curragh 1m sft in Oct.
Rockview Roman (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Disputed early, tracked leader after 1f, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 9th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Wajaaha (10-2) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Nov.
Take My Hand (IRE) 125-1 (11-7) Disputed lead, took keen hold, headed at 4th, dropped to 4th 3 out and ridden, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, 5th of 25, 36 3/4l behind Halka Du Tabert (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Abbeydale (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders early, rear of mid-division before halfway, pushed along and good headway on inner before straight, disputed lead from 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in, headed closing stages, 2nd of 14, nk behind Ms Agartha Yeats (10-6) at Wexford 2m 5f mdn hvy in Oct.
Fiveonefive (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) In rear, closer in 9th 3 out, pushed along in moderate 5th 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 18, 31 1/2l behind Joyeux Machin (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Dec.
Huckleberry River (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistake 3rd and mistake 5th, jumped left next, soon lost ground on leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn sft in Jan.
In Excess (FR) 11-8fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along to go 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden and kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 18, 4l behind Foxy Girl (10-6) at Limerick 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Kelce (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, bad mistake 1st, ridden in 6th entering straight, no impression, 8th of 24, dist behind Impaire Et Passe (11-7) at Naas 2m 3f mdn sft in Dec.
Lofoten (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden entering straight, weakened, 13th of 15, 16 1/4l behind White Caviar (9-10) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp sft in Oct.
Master Breffni (IRE) 250-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden in moderate 10th 2 out, no impression, 14th of 22, dist behind Sa Fureur (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
On My Bike (IRE) 125-1 (11-4) Towards rear, 15th 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened, never a factor, 14th of 15, dist behind Quais De Paris (11-4) at Tramore 2m mdn hvy in Jan.
Park Of Kings (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, progress into 6th 3f out, ridden in 4th 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Pour Les Filles (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m sft in Dec.
Pay Later 150-1 (11-12) Prominent, moderate 8th before 4 out, effort before 2 out, kept on, no danger, 6th of 25, 31 1/4l behind Hunters Yarn (11-12) at Naas 2m mdn sft in Jan.
Sam Magee (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Mid-division, 6th halfway, 4th 3 out, headway and disputed next, not fluent and headed last, ridden and no impression in 3rd when not clear run and switched right 100 yards out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 16, 5 1/4l behind Eye Van (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn sft in Dec.
Thirsty Thursday (IRE) 150-1 (11-4) Towards rear for most, never a factor, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn sft in Dec.
Valhalla's Dream (IRE) 80-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, mid-division and pushed along after 4 out, no extra in straight, tailed off, 14th of 19, dist behind Action Motion (10-13) at Cork 2m mdn sft in Jan.
Resilient Front (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden in moderate 7th 2 out, no impression, 8th of 16, 26 1/4l behind Pats Choice (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Sep.
Calazure (IRE) Califet gelding out of Lilly Of The Moor.
Figaroc (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Towards rear, a little keen, not fluent at 3rd, headway at 4th, 7th before 5th, progress after 6th, closed at 7th, led at 8th, headed before 4 out, 3rd after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Tramore 2m 6f mdn hvy in Jan.
