mid-division early, 11th approaching halfway, fell 3 out
waited with, soon towards rear, no extra approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
waited with, not fluent 4th, soon no danger
tracked leaders, switched right to outer into straight, led before last, stayed on well to assert run-in
prominent, effort from 2 out, ridden to chase winner and kept on same pace run-in
led, edged right before 2nd, jumped slightly right next, joined 5th, slight mistake 3 out, headed next, weakened straight
waited with, soon towards rear, some headway but no impression from before 2 out, kept on same pace without threatening
chased leaders, 6th approaching halfway, one pace approaching 2 out
mid-division early, 12th approaching halfway, headway but no impression from before 2 out, soon chased leaders and kept on without threatening straight
mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, slight mistake 2 out and one pace
waited with, soon towards rear, slight mistake 3 out, soon one pace
waited with, 14th approaching halfway, some headway but no impression from before 2 out, one pace
chased leaders, 5th approaching halfway, no extra approaching 2 out
took keen hold, prominent, on terms 5th, led 2 out, headed before last, soon no extra and one pace in 3rd
chased leaders, 7th approaching halfway, slight mistake 4th, no extra approaching 2 out
mid-division early, 10th approaching halfway, headway approaching 2 out, soon no extra and one pace
mid-division early, 13th approaching halfway, no extra approaching 2 out
mid-division early, 9th approaching halfway, no extra approaching 2 out
City Island beat subsequent winner Getareason in very good style over 2m5f at Galway in August but tested positive and was disqualified. He looks a nice prospect but DEFY DE MEE looked certain to make all over 2m2f at Fairyhouse only to be caught on the run-in and this shorter trip can enable him to go one better. Dallas Des Pictons completed a double in French bumpers but was beaten a long way on his hurdling bow at Naas and may need another run. His stable companion Song Of Namibia won a couple of races on the Flat though wasn't particularly consistent but Raya Time easily won a Killarney bumper in May and made an eventful hurdling debut at Down Royal where he tried to run out at one stage but eventually only weakened from the last.
Bigger And Better 20-1 (9-13) Towards rear for most, ridden and no impression over 2f out, 13th of 17, 17 1/2l behind Art Of America (9-10) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Blankiedoodie 5-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Little Pippin (8-7) at Hamilton 1m 1f hcp (6) sft in Sep.
Captain Courageous (IRE) 80-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, no impression in 12th after 5th, weakened after 3 out, never a factor, 11th of 18, dist behind Tornado Flyer (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn gd in Dec.
City Island (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, ridden to lead before last, stayed on well run-in, disqualified for a banned substance, won at Galway 2m 5f mdn Yielding - Soft in Aug beating Getareason (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 19 ran.
Dallas Des Pictons (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outer, 5th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders, 4th of 13, 25 3/4l behind Borderline Chatho (11-12) at Naas 2m 3f mdn Good - Yielding in Nov.
Defy De Mee (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Soon led, went on 4 out, reduced lead from before last, headed run-in and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Lone Wolf (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 2f mdn gd in Dec.
Happy Lad (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Led, joined after 6f and headed briefly halfway, pushed along early straight and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 8 3/4l behind Chead Solas (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 1f gd in Nov.
Incredible Black (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold early, ridden 8th, weakened 4 out,, 7th of 9, dist behind Cap York (11-12) at Navan 2m 7f mdn Yielding in Dec.
Lucky Ranger (IRE) Bushranger gelding out of Great Idea.
Maddenstown (IRE) 7-4 (12-2) Prom, 3rd 1/2way, wknd to mid div 5out, rdn from 4out, no ex & pu 3out, at Ballinaboola 3m mdn gd in Nov.
Melman (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, progress into 5th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 9th of 21, dist behind Battleoverdoyen (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn Yielding in Dec.
Mutadaffeq (IRE) 80-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, driven over 2f out, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 9th of 12, 6 1/2l behind Gododdin (9-0) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
No Admission (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leader, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 3f out, 6th of 8, 25 3/4l behind Sally Park (12-0) at Navan 2m Yielding in Sep.
Raya Time (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Prominent, mistake 2nd and led after 3rd, 4 lengths clear halfway, wandered and hit wing 4 out, soon headed, pushed along and short of room after next, no extra after 2 out, 5th of 15, 12 1/2l behind Brace Yourself (11-12) at Down Royal 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Nov.
Recommendation 33-1 (8-4) Pushed along leaving stalls, soon raced towards rear, 13th halfway, progress over 1f out, ridden 1f out, ran on strongly, never nearer, 7th of 19, 4 3/4l behind Perfect Tapatino (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Oct.
Song Of Namibia (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) In rear, 16th halfway, good headway on inner over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 16, 8 1/2l behind Warnaq (9-3) at Naas 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Nov.
Swarez (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Mid-division on inner, weakened from 4 out, never a factor, 13th of 14, dist behind Defi Bleu (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f mdn gd in Nov.
The Shed Mcgrath (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) Alwys in rr, mstks, wknd & pu 5out, at Ballinaboola 3m mdn gd in Nov.
