chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th and no extra 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, late headway in 10th 1f out, ran on final furlong to 3rd close home
rear of mid-division throughout, never a factor
mid-division, headway in 8th 2f out, ridden into 6th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, stayed on challenge in 2nd 1f out, led last 150 yards, kept on well
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden into 9th 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, no extra in 5th 1f out, weakened final furlong
soon led, ridden and challenged 1f out, headed last 150 yards, no extra and kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
towards rear for most, never a factor
mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden and weakened 2f out
slowly away, always trailing, tailed off
mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden and weakened 2f out
rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
always towards rear
Great Realief didn't show much on turf last year but it was a different matter when he returned to action at Dundalk early this month as he slammed a field of handicappers by seven lengths. The handicapper has reacted with an astonishing 20lb rise and it's difficult to imagine a follow-up back on turf. Money Trader scored over a mile here in June and is only 1lb higher. He made a promising return to action at the Curragh and should go well but this can go to DARING MAN. Denis Cullen's charge has never won on turf in 20 starts but came very close when runner-up to West Coast Dream here a fortnight ago and can finally get off the mark. Northern Rocked, who wasn't far behind in fourth, has since run well over an extra furlong at Limerick so the form looks sound. Hot Sand is consistent enough but he's another who finds winning difficult.
Aznavour (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders on outer, 6th halfway, weakened entering straight, last of 13, 14l behind Hajoum (9-10) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Elusive Award (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 6th approaching straight, soon no extra and weakened, last of 14, 13l behind Banna Boirche (9-7) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Nov.
Money Trader (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Rear of mid-division, went 5th on far side 2f out, challenged over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Drombeg Dawn (8-13) at Curragh 1m Extended Handicap (4yo+) sft in Mar.
Daring Man (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Rear of mid-division, good headway on inner approaching straight, ridden to go 2nd and challenged from 2f out, no impression under pressure well inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind West Coast Dream (8-9) at Leopardstown 7f Handicap (50-85) (4yo+) in Mar.
Northern Rocked (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, pushed along in 4th 3f out, headway on outer early straight, led on outer 1 1/2f out, headed 1f out, no extra final furlong, 3rd of 15, 3/4l behind Maal (9-10) at Limerick 1m hcp 50-80 sft.
Rambling Dancer (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on to dispute 2nd final furlong, just held for 2nd, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Webbow (9-3) at Dundalk 7f 3yo stks pol in Dec.
Like Magic (IRE) 11-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, driven along in 6th 2f out, soon no extra, 8th of 14, 7l behind West Coast Dream (8-9) at Leopardstown 7f Handicap (50-85) (4yo+) in Mar.
Ultra Cool (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 14, 9l behind Dahindar (10-0) at Dundalk 1m hcp 60-85 pol in Oct.
Hot Sand (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong to 2nd last strides, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Barrow Island (9-4) at Dundalk 1m mdn stks pol in Mar.
Great Realief (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Settled in mid-division, good headway early straight to challenge 2f out, soon led, quckened clear from over 1f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Dundalk 7f hcp 47-60 pol beating Tax Dodger (9-9) by 7l, 14 ran.
Murura (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind Brannagh (9-5) at Doncaster 7f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun.
Cinnin Oir (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Rear of mid-division, hampered and stumbled after 2f, towards rear from halfway, 13th of 14, 14l behind Boynagh Joy (9-12) at Dundalk 1m app hcp 60-76 pol in Nov.
Dunne Grand (USA) 13-2 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway in 8th 2f out, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 6l behind Bubbly Bellini (8-10) at Dundalk 6f hcp 47-70 pol in Mar.
Ma Ani (USA) 33-1 (9-8) Prominent, 4th halfway, effort entering straight, soon no extra, 7th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Dazzle Dancer (9-8) at Dundalk 1m 4f app hcp 50-75 pol in Nov.
Rigid Rock (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Never better than mid-division, 17th of 30, 9l behind Boynagh Joy (9-6) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-75 in Oct.
Lucks Certain (IRE) 100-1 (10-4) Never better than mid-division, 13th of 27, 11l behind Sing Softly (9-0) at Curragh 6f mdn stks sft in Mar.
Glad Lion (GER) 25-1 (7-11) Always behind, trailing when eased before straight, last of 16, 49l behind Walter De La Mare (8-5) at Sligo 1m 2f hcp 60-90 in Sep.
