prominent, disputed after 1f, led after 2f, joined 3f out, came stand\'s side straight, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out
held up behind leaders, stayed far side straight, ridden to challenge 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably
held up in rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, soon no extra
led, joined after 1f, headed after 2f, 3rd halfway, stayed far side straight, ridden 2f out, challenged 1 1/2f out, no extra 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
prominent and tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, disputed 3f out, came stand\'s side straight, led over 2f out, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace
Malbay Madness was sent to France for a Listed hurdle after winning a Galway handicap over this trip which came four days after beaten a short-head there. After scoring at Punchestown, PERFECT POISE has been beaten narrowly by two in-form rivals and looks the one to beat. Katola landed a Naas maiden in August that has worked out very well as has the maiden Lecale's Approach's win last November, though that was at Dundalk. Neither of the remaining pair can be dismissed in a tight-looking race.
Malbay Madness (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) 7th of 9, dist behind Light Wave (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 2f lst sft in Sep.
Grey Leader (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Led early, raced keenly, headed after 1f, 2nd halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and dropped to 4th, kept on again inside final furlong to go 3rd last 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Space Age (9-7) at Killarney 1m Yielding in Aug.
Lecale's Approach (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Prominent on outer, improved to disputed lead and pushed along 2f out, ridden and led 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m mdn fll pol in Nov beating Sweetest Rose (9-2) by 1l, 14 ran.
Perfect Poise (IRE) 10-3fav (8-12) Led, headed 2 1/2f out, soon pushed along, ridden to dispute lead briefly 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, kept on under pressure close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Fratas (9-3) at Navan 1m hcp fll Yielding in Oct.
Machnamh (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway entering straight and pushed along to lead under 2f out, soon ridden, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Oct beating Ninth Life (9-8) by 1l, 14 ran.
Katola (IRE) 15-8 (9-3) Dwelt, soon tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, switched right over 2f out, 4th 2f out, soon challenged, ridden and disputed 1 1/2f out, led narrowly 1f out, asserted final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Naas 1m mdn fll sft in Aug beating Water Nymph (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
