led, pushed along 3f out, hung right entering straight, headed under 2f out, dropped to 5th over 1f out, no impression
tracked leaders disputing 3rd, headway to dispute 2nd when checked and badly hampered between horses 2f out, soon ridden and went 2nd, disputed lead 1f out, led briefly and narrowly inside final furlong, kept on same pace, headed at line
tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along 3f out, ridden and disputing 2nd when checked and dropped to 5th 2f out, soon weakened under pressure
tracked leaders disputing 3rd, ridden and headway to lead briefly under 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, 4th 1f out, weakened
held up disputing 5th, headway and pushed along on outer 2f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, joined 1f out, briefly and narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied to regain lead at line
held up disputing 5th, in touch in last when short of room 2f out and switched right, soon ridden, went 3rd 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong
Having won this five times in eight years, Jim Bolger relies on Speirling Beag, who beat Lumiere Rock in a Gowran maiden before third to that one in a Curragh Group 3. KEEP IN TOUCH beat the latter in a Galway maiden before a close third in another Curragh Group 3 where his rider dropped his whip close home. He can get back on the winning trail in an open-looking contest. Mister Mister looked a much-improved performer at Gowran while jockey bookings suggest Curragh maiden winner Hippodrome is the pick of the Ballydoyle trio though he finished five lengths behind stable companion Hiawatha in a maiden there in August. The latter then ran moderately in the Goffs Million there but Gulf Of Mexico enjoyed soft ground at Killarney and conditions will be in his favour. Village Voice overcame trouble in-running at Thurles and can only improve.
Gulf Of Mexico (IRE) 5-2 (9-7) Led, briefly headed over 3f out, soon regained lead, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out, cosily, won at Killarney 1m mdn sft in Oct beating Sea Legend (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Hiawatha (IRE) 10-3fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th 3f out, soon pushed along, ridden and lost place 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 11th of 19, 9 3/4l behind Galeron (9-5) at Curragh 7f sft in Sep.
Hippodrome (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 1f mdn Yielding - Soft in Oct beating Harsh (9-7) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Mister Mister (GER) 5-2 (9-5) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway early straight and led 1 1/2f out, soon veered right, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m mdn Yielding - Soft in Sep beating Covent Garden (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.
Speirling Beag (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead and pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, headed under 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Lumiere Rock (9-2) at Curragh 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Village Voice 11-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th travelling well under 2f out, soon switched left and pushed along over 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Thurles 1m mdn sft in Oct beating Shangrilama (8-10) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Keep In Touch (IRE) 17-2 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, disputed 2nd briefly 1f out, kept on under pressure in 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Basil Martini (9-2) at Curragh 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Sep.
