raced in 4th, pushed along 2f out, no impression 1f out
led, pushed along early straight, soon pressed, kept on well final furlong, headed and dropped to 3rd closing stages
in rear, pushed along over 3f out, no impression from before straight
raced in 3rd, travelling smoothly and closed straight, pushed along from 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, led close home
raced in 2nd, pushed along before straight, on terms and every chance inside final furlong, kept on well, headed close home
AUSSIE VALENTINE won this a year ago and his recent form points to a follow-up. The five-year-old reappeared after a long break with a fine run behind the in-form Hat Alnasar at Dundalk then ran a superb race to finish runner-up in the Irish Lincoln at the Curragh when Mandamus was well beaten. He deserves to get back to winning ways and can do so at the chief expense of Shadagann. Michael Halford's charge hasn't run since landing a rated race at the Curragh in October and must go well though his best form has been on quicker going. Laganore went up 11lb for landing a handicap here in October and found 6f much too short on his return to action at the Curragh while the lightly-raced Unyielding hasn't run well over hurdles recently after showing plenty of promise on the Flat in the summer.
Mandamus (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) Mid-division, 14th halfway, some progress over 2f out, under pressure in 8th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 13th of 22, 17l behind Sruthan (9-6) at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Aussie Valentine (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led, ridden 2f out and headed 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 22, 4 1/4l behind Sruthan (9-6) at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Shadagann (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Dwelt, held up in 5th, ridden and progress into 4th 2f out, improved to lead over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 2f gd in Oct beating Boherbuoy (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Laganore (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Towards rear, 12th on outer halfway, some progress over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 8th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Bubbly Bellini (9-11) at Curragh 6f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Unyielding 4-6fav (11-7) Led, slight mistake 3rd, extended lead before 5th, reduced lead next, joined 2 out, soon headed, weakened from before last where not fluent, 6th of 9, 19 1/4l behind All Souls (11-7) at Navan 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb.