tracked front pair, went 2nd from 4th, not fluent 3 out, challenged next, soon driven and one pace, ridden and edged left flat, gaining near finish, just held
tracked winner, not fluent 3rd, lost place next, chased front pair, rallied and close up 4 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression with front pair before last
made all, hard pressed 2 out, ridden before last, kept on under pressure flat, held on near finish
held up always in rear, outpaced from 4 out
SIMPLY NED (NAP) has won this for the past two years and continued to run with credit in top company, including when a close second in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. He faces a tough task here but is taken to complete a hat-trick as Witness In Court has gone up 5lb for landing a Class 3 handicap at Stratford. Theflyingportrait completed a double when landing a Class 3 handicap here last month but has gone up another 8lb and will need to find more while Domtaline is 12lb out of the handicap.
Simply Ned (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in last pair in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before next, at Kelso 2m 1f (2) sft in Apr.
Witness In Court (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 10th, driven approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Roman Flight (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Theflyingportrait (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Made all, kept on strongly from last, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Imjoeking (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
Domtaline (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Stumbled and sprawled 1st, last until closed before 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, went well beaten 4th before last, 4th of 5, 15 3/4l behind Tempuran (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
