tracked leaders, on terms into straight, headed from 1 1/2f out, no impression and switched left 1f out, kept on without matching front pair after
soon raced in 3rd, briefly lost position after halfway, closed again and slightly impeded 6f out, on terms into straight, headed from 1 1/2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, led near line
raced in 2nd, on terms from before halfway, soon led, pushed along approaching straight, soon joined, headed over 2f out, no extra after
waited with, soon towards rear, some headway and pushed along before straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace without threatening
waited with, towards rear and pushed along briefly under 5f out, pushed along again before straight, soon no impression
soon tracked leaders, pushed along approaching straight, soon weakened
a little keen, waited with towards rear, closed from before halfway, on terms into straight travelling smoothly, led from 1 1/2f out and ridden, kept on well inside final furlong, headed near line
waited with, 7th for much, some headway and pushed along approaching straight, no extra and one pace after
led, joined from before halfway, soon headed, not much room on inner briefly 6f out, ridden and weakened after, virtually pulled up early straight, completely tailed off
Gordon Elliott will have set his stall out to win this and has three entries. Axiomatic will need to improve on his Wexford run while Biko could just need the run after a long absence in what looks a competitive bumper. Jamie Codd rides Eskylane for the yard and his mount easily landed a point at Broughshane in May so could prove the stable pick. Assemble disappointed at Limerick in December after a better run here earlier when PORT STANLEY finished second to the brilliant Envoi Allen. That's comfortably the best form on view though Willie Mullins' Appreciate It, who started a short-priced favourite when beaten into third behind the latter in a point on his debut before scoring at Dromahane, is an obvious danger.
Appreciate It (IRE) Evens (11-11) Ld/disp, hdd 2out, 1 1/2l 2nd bef last where faster jump & ld early flat, qcknd clr flat, won at Dromahane 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in Mar beating Catch The Swallows (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Assemble 11-8fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, a little keen, 4th before halfway, 3rd on outer into straight, soon no impression, one pace, 4th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Cobbler's Way (11-11) at Limerick 2m sft in Dec.
Axiomatic (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Chased leader, 3rd after 4f, closed in 2nd under 5f out, under pressure 2f out, no impression on clear leader over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 6 1/2l behind Fortune Street (12-0) at Wexford 2m Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Barnaviddaun (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Towards rear, 8th 3 out, pushed in moderate 7th 2 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Unexcepted (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Biko (IRE) 22-1 (12-0) Towards rear, progress into 8th 4f out, soon ridden, 8th 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 17, 10 1/2l behind Longhouse Poet (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 2f Good - Yielding in May.
Born In Galway (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place 5f out, ridden towards rear entering straight, kept on one pace, 10th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Behind The Curtain (11-12) at Cork 2m sft in Jan.
Eskylane (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Mid-div, 3rd 5out, prog to ld 3out, went clr bef 2out, sow, won at Broughshane 3m mdn gd in May beating Jeremy Sunshine (12-2) by 5l, 9 ran.
Port Stanley (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Disputed lead, led over 3f out, pushed along and clear 2f out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed 1f out, kept on same pace in 2nd final furlong, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Envoi Allen (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m gd in Dec.
Rebel Gold (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Towards rear, good headway halfway and disputed lead briefly 6f out, pushed along and lost place quickly approaching straight, soon weakened, 8th of 11, dist behind Asterion Forlonge (12-0) at Thurles 2m sft in Nov.
Enniskerry (IRE) Jeremy gelding out of Princess Gaia.
Rosencrantz (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, disputed lead at halfway, ridden and headed 3 1/2f out, soon no impression, 5th of 10, 35 1/4l behind Easywork (12-0) at Down Royal 2m sft in Nov.
