held up in 4th early, 3rd halfway, ridden and close up 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, no extra closing stages final furlong
led, disputed after 1 1/2f, headed after 3f, ridden 3f out, stayed on to narrow lead 2f out, wandered under pressure from over 1f out, disputed from 1f out, 2nd and just held closing stages final furlong
chased leader on outer, disputed after 1 1/2f, led after 3f, ridden and narrowly headed 2f out, disputed again from 1f out, drifted slghtly left inside final furlong, edged ahead closing stages, all out
slowly into stride and rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, eased inside final furlong
chased leaders in 3rd early, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on same pace
It's difficult to evaluate the form of RED ROCKS POINT, who followed his debut success at Dundalk in September by beating two opponents over this track and trip last month. He was the outsider of three that day but made all for an impressive success and though an Eclipse entry looks optimistic he's obviously thought capable of better so gets the vote. He faces no easy task here against Chance To Dance, who is on a hat-trick after his victory at the Curragh on Friday for which he's penalised. He had earlier beaten Eighteen Summers narrowly in the 1m4f Cork Derby and the latter will be 8lb better off so must have a realistic chance of turning the tables. Northern Rocked has a long absence to overcome and is probably warming up for Galway where he won a premier handicap last year.
Chance To Dance (IRE) 9-4fav (9-8) Chased leaders, improved into 2nd travelling well 2f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 2f hcp 60-100 gf in Jun beating Vastonea (9-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Red Rocks Point (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Made all, niggled at and reminders over 5f out, driven entering straight, kept on strongly 1 1/2f out, readily, won at Gowran Park 1m 1f stks gf in Jun beating Ebeyina (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 3 ran.
Eighteen Summers (USA) 16-1 (8-7) Led and soon 6 lengths clear, reduced advantage before halfway, ridden over 2f out and 3 lengths lead 1f out, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Chance To Dance (9-3) at Cork 1m 4f pren hcp gf in Jun.
Hes Our Music (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, some progress early straight and ridden in 9th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 5l behind Chance To Dance (9-3) at Cork 1m 4f pren hcp gf in Jun.
Sophie's World (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear on outer, ridden from early straight, no impression 1 1/2f out where 5th, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 5l behind Tested (8-13) at Gowran Park 7f fll stks in May.
Northern Rocked (IRE) 40-1 (9-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden entering straight and no extra in 7th 1f out, weakened, 12th of 16, 11l behind Francis Of Assisi (9-5) at Leopardstown 7f Listed stks (1) sft in Nov.
Dynamite Dixie (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Soon chased leaders, 6th 3f out, dropped to 11th and no impression from 2f out, eased inside final furlong, 14th of 15, 29l behind That's Plenty (9-7) at Curragh 1m hcp in May.
