Not the ideal races for betting purposes as we have seen recently but SLATE LANE won three times over hurdles in the summer and could be the one to beat. Noble Anthem won the first race in this charity series at Naas and should have won the next but his rider eased down and was caught by Fair Damsel so he's an obvious threat. The latter arrives in good form having been narrowly beaten over 1m4f on heavy ground at Gowran on Monday. Stop On Red won a minor race at Catterick in August and wasn't beaten far in a Curragh handicap last weekend while Adhuil's second at Gowran on Monday was boosted when the winner went in again the next day.
Slate Lane (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Held up in touch, took keen hold, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, easily, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Sep beating Tommie Beau (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Noble Anthem (IRE) 13-8fav (12-6) 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Fair Damsel (11-9) at Curragh 1m 4f sft in Sep.
Power Drive 5-1 (9-11) Mid-division early, improved to tracked leaders after 2f, clear of field in close 2nd after 3f, ridden and disputed at reduced advantage 2f out, led narrowly 1f out, headed last 50 yards, 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Deluca Chop (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Feb.
Stop On Red (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Dwelt, in rear, progress over 1f out, ridden in 13th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Racing Royalty (10-1) at Curragh 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Adhuil (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden to progress 2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Rough And Tough (9-3) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp hvy in Oct.
Derby De Thaix (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along in 7th 3f out, no threat in moderate 7th entering straight, kept on one pace without threatening, 4th of 9, 23 1/4l behind Coeur Sublime (11-0) at Listowel 1m 6f Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Humanitarian (USA) 40-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders on inner, pulled hard, led at halfway, clear 4f out, ridden 2f out, soon strongly pressed, headed 1 1/2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 14, 5 1/2l behind Celtic Revival (10-2) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Sep.
Sefton Warrior 33-1 (12-0) 5th of 11, 20 1/2l behind Fair Damsel (11-9) at Curragh 1m 4f sft in Sep.
Fair Damsel (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Soon mid-division, towards rear halfway, ridden to close on outer 2f out, stayed on into 2nd 1f out, kept on final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Ellaat (9-8) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp hvy in Oct.
Picpoul (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Disputed lead early, led after 3f, ridden and headed 2f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Musical Rhapsody (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Feb.
Fireworks (FR) 22-1 (11-9) Mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression in rear of mid-division 3 out, kept on one pace, 10th of 15, 21 3/4l behind Gwan Tadhg (12-0) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
Back O' The Net (IRE) 125-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway before 2nd, took closer order in 2nd after 3rd, led before 4th, headed before 7th, dropped to 5th 4 out, lost place 3 out, weakened and detached after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Wexford 2m 1f mdn Yielding in Aug.
Miss Arccol (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) Rear of mid division, 13th halfway, no impression from 4 out, 12th of 14, dist behind Millstream Lady (11-4) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
