raced mainly in rear, ridden and improved in 4th over 2f out, no impression inside final furlong and kept on same pace
soon led, ridden and pressed from 2f out, headed over 1f out and soon no extra, kept on same pace and dropped to 3rd close home
raced mainly in 5th, ridden over 2f out and dropped to rear, no impression from over 1f out
settled in 2nd, ridden to challenge from 2f out, led over 1f out and kept on well inside final furlong
raced mainly in 4th on outer, ridden over 2f out and soon dropped to 5th, no impression and weakened final furlong
raced in 3rd, ridden over 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong without troubling winner
Jim Bolger won this last year and Spring Focus should make a bold bid despite a defeat here last month when strongly fancied. He's been raised 4lb but it wouldn't be a shock if he were to put that loss behind him. TARZIYNA was an unlucky loser on her debut then ran into a useful type at the Curragh so she was entitled to land her maiden at Sligo which she did with the minimum of fuss. The assessor has done her no favours but hopefully she's progressing enough to make a winning handicap debut. Iniesta landed a one mile Galway maiden on soft ground in August and wasn't seen again until last month where she ran a shocker over 1m4f at the Curragh so is probably best watched here. Princess Pearlita progressed steadily in her first campaign culminating in a victory at Dundalk in November but it's a bit of a concern that she hasn't been seen subsequently. Bribe The Bouncer reappeared with a battling success at Listowel where he stayed on gamely under pressure to land a one mile maiden. This longer trip is certain to suit and he hasn't been overrated by the assessor.
Iniesta (IRE) 11-2 (9-12) Soon mid-division, pushed along before halfway, no extra approaching straight, eased 2f out, 8th of 9, 49l behind Urban Moon (9-7) at Curragh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 60-90 in Jun.
Tarziyna (IRE) 4-9fav (9-0) Prominent, travelling smoothly over 2f out where 3rd, led from 1f out, went clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, easily, won at Sligo 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn gd in Jun beating Flowing Air (9-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Princess Pearlita (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Made all, ridden 2f out and kept on well under pressure to assert inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 7f 2yo mdn fll auc stks pol in Nov beating Wishyouwerehere (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Spring Focus (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) Chased leaders on rail, improved into 2nd over 2f out and soon ridden, challenged 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Panama Hat (8-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp 47-70 gf in Jun.
Heart In The Air (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 3f out and no extra under 2f out, weakened, 8th of 10, 14l behind Beyond Brilliance (9-3) at Navan 1m 2f 3yo hcp gf in Jun.
Mr Snagsby (IRE) 18-1 (9-1) Rear of mid-division, pushed along in moderate 8th approaching straight, went 6th under pressure 1f out, kept on, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Scooping (8-10) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 50-70 gd in Jun.
Bribe The Bouncer (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Mid-division, pushed along in moderate 5th halfway, progress into 4th under 150 yards out, stayed on strongly to lead on line, won at Listowel 1m 3yo mdn aut gd in Jun beating The Scourge (9-5) by ns, 10 ran.
