mid-division, 6th halfway, not fluent in moderate 5th 5 out, closer in 4th 3 out, pushed along in 2nd before 2 out, challenged after last, ridden and kept on, no impression on winner inside final furlong
held up towards rear, 7th halfway, mistake 9th, pushed along in 6th after 3 out, went moderate 3rd after last, no impression, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th early, improved into 2nd before 6th, fell 8th
towards rear, mistake 8th, 8th halfway, no impression in 7th when slight mistake 2 out, ridden in moderate 4th entering straight, kept on one pace
prominent, 4th halfway, slight mistake 5 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, never a factor, ridden and no impression in moderate 8th before 2 out, moderate 5th and kept on one pace run-in
led, slow 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, 4th and weakened quickly after last, no extra, pulled up entering straight
held up mid-division, slightly slow 3rd and raced in moderate 5th after, progress to close 3rd 3 out, led before 2 out, strongly pressed after last and brought to stands' side entering straight, ridden and kept on well to assert inside final furlong
always towards rear, not fluent 2nd, hampered by faller and unseated rider 8th
prominent, tracked leader, 3rd halfway, ridden and dropped to 4th before 2 out, no impression and weakened after last, no extra
PORTMORE LOUGH was well supported despite having only his sixth career start in a handicap over 2m2f here earlier this month where he battled on well from the last and was going away at the finish. He has much more to offer and can overcome a 7lb rise. Nambour has a course and distance victory to his credit though that victory was back in 2016 and he hasn't had much joy in his two recent runs following a long absence. Shady Operator, in the same ownership as the selection, scored at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and is taking a drop in class on his later efforts while Ask Heather, unbeaten in three starts between the flags, is on a very fair mark for her handicap debut over fences and knows where the winning post is.
Sumos Novios (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Always towards rear on outer, never a factor, no impression after 4 out and no extra in straight, behind and pulled up before last, at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Shady Operator (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division early, impeded 6th, pecked slightly 17th, soon no danger, pulled up 3 out, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Nambour (GER) 10-1 (10-6) Soon chased leaders, 7th from 2nd, 6th from 9th, mistake 5 out, no extra from next and pulled up before 2 out, at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Oct.
Mick The Jiver 18-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway approaching 3 out and 2nd entering straight, ridden to lead last where slight mistake, strongly pressed and kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec beating Consharon Boy (10-12) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Templemore Dream (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Soon disputed lead, mistake 3rd, headed from 6th but remained prominent, lost position and pushed along approaching straight, soon no extra, left 3rd from last, 3rd of 6, 16 1/4l behind Visioman (11-7) at Tipperary 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Timiyan (USA) 50-1 (9-13) Waited with early, soon towards rear and pushed along at stages, slightly impeded 7th, last from 9th, mistake on outer 5 out, jumped left after, pulled up 3 out, at Limerick 3m hcp hvy in Oct.
Damut (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Led, joined 2 out, soon ridden and headed, under pressure in 3rd entering straight, kept on same pace, 4th close home, 4th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Portmore Lough (10-8) at Galway 2m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Portmore Lough (IRE) 4-1fav (10-8) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, closer in 3rd 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon disputed, narrow lead after last, ridden entering straight, kept on well under pressure closing stages, won at Galway 2m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Great Khan (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Father Jed (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Led early, bad mistake and bumped at 1st, headed and slight mistake next, soon 4th, closer in 2nd from halfway, disputed lead 3 out, ridden and headed after next, weakened, 6th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Dontdooddson (10-6) at Sligo 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
He Rock's (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Soon led, joined briefly 5th and 9th, pushed along and 4 lengths clear early run-in, ridden early straight, under pressure and headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Wake Up Early (10-5) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Sep.
Ask Heather (IRE) 9-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th after 3 out, improved to dispute lead under pressure after 2 out, led narrowly after last, drifted right under pressure close home, kept on, won at Tramore 2m Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Mohart (11-10) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
