mid-division outer, 9th halfway, no extra over 2f out, weakened
held up in rear, never a factor, some progress straight and 11th 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and 4th 2f out, no extra 1f out, weakened
rear of mid-division, 12th halfway, ridden in 10th 2f out and 7th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
disputed lead, ran freely, headed after 3f, 2nd halfway, ridden entering straight and no extra over 1f out, weakened
prominent and disputed lead, led after 3f, ridden and headed 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and no extra over 2f out, weakened
held up towards rear, 13th halfway, progress approaching straight, went 3rd over 1f out, ridden to lead 100 yards out, kept on well
rear of mid-division, 11th halfway, soon ridden, under pressure in 9th 2f out, no extra over 1f out
tracked leaders, ran freely, 7th halfway, pushed along and no extra approaching straight, weakened, tailed off
always towards rear, 14th halfway and soon pushed along, no extra straight
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress straight and ridden to lead 1f out, headed 100 yards out, no impression on winner
chased leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along straight and 4th 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace inside final furlong
mid-division, 8th halfway, pushed along 2f out and no impression in 9th 1f out, no extra
mid-division, 10th halfway, some progress entering straight and went 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
It's very rare to find an Aidan O'Brien-trained entry at the bottom of a handicap but Echoes Of My Mind has only shown moderate form to date and is difficult to fancy. Conditions were very testing when Never Again just held off Oiche Mhaith Boy over a mile at Cork three weeks ago. The runner-up is 2lb better off but both appear to need more give than they are likely to find here. Extreme Appeal, who finished a close fourth, has since run well behind the in-form Ringside Humour over an extra two furlongs at Leopardstown and it would be no surprise to see him reverse the form. The latter is trained by Jim Bolger, who has SELSKAR ABBEY entered here. He didn't show much in his first season but was always more likely to do better in his second campaign and begins in handicaps on what looks a reasonable mark. Pat Harkin is lightly-raced and made a pleasing handicap debut and can go well if handling the quicker surface.
Oiche Mhaith Boy (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, soon pushed along, ridden 2 1/2f out, headway to 4th 1f out, kept on well, on terms over 50 yards out, headed close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Never Again (8-4) at Cork 1m 3yo hcp hvy.
Ripped (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Took keen hold, soon raced on outer in 2nd, lost place approaching straight, soon dropped to last, behind under 2f out, last of 8, 34l behind Edelpour (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m 4f 3yo mdn.
Magic Of Christmas (IRE) 3-1 (8-7) Led, clear after 3f, reduced advantage 4f out, ridden and strongly pressed entering straight, headed over 2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace, last of 3, 7l behind King Christophe (9-7) at Limerick 1m 3f 3yo hcp sft.
Papagayo (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, checked after 1f, soon mid-division, ridden entering straight, 6th 2f out, no impression, 7th of 14, 6l behind Unorthodox (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn auc stks pol in Nov.
Selskar Abbey (USA) 22-1 (9-5) Led, ridden entering straight, headed under 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 9th of 16, 16l behind Giovanni Canaletto (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn stks in Oct.
Extreme Appeal (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, led entering straight, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, kept on under pressure, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Ringside Humour (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo hcp sft.
Never Again (IRE) 28-1 (8-4) Rear, pushed along in 9th halfway, came wide entering straight, ridden over 2f out, progress to 5th 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead close home, won at Cork 1m 3yo hcp hvy beating Oiche Mhaith Boy (9-0) by hd, 10 ran.
One Cool Poet (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) Soon towards rear in 10th, no impression and kept on from 2f out, 8th of 11, 17l behind Zawraq (9-5) at Leopardstown 7f mdn stks in Oct.
Carvella (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Chased leaders on outer, 6th halfway, pushed along entering straight, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 8l behind Clutchingatstraws (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn fll pol in Dec.
Envisioning (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Led early, remained prominent, under pressure over 1f out, faded final furlong, 7th of 12, 6l behind Vejovis (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Nialls Rory (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along entering straight and dropped to rear 1 1/2f out, no extra, last of 9, 17l behind Indian Tomahawk (9-3) at Dundalk 1m auc stks pol in Mar.
Pat Harkin (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression in 6th 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 7l behind Ringside Humour (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo hcp sft.
Chicago Dancer (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Chased leaders and ran freely early, soon mid-division, towards rear halfway, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 9th of 16, 25l behind Ashraf (9-5) at Curragh 1m 3yo mdn hvy in Mar.
Echoes Of My Mind (IRE) 11-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, 5th 3f out, switched out for room over 2f out and soon ridden, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 6l behind Baby Dinnis (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3yo hcp 47-65 pol.
Nice Vintage (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 10l behind Liffey View (8-11) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol in Oct.
Lake Geneva (IRE) 50-1 (8-7) Dwelt, in rear, under pressure from early straight, no impression 3f out, soon no extra, last of 9, 24l behind Curvy (9-3) at Navan 1m 2f 3yo hcp.
Marol (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Soon led, joined after 2f, led again and pushed along 3f out, headed and 3rd 2f out, 5th 1f out, one pace, 5th of 9, 9l behind Curvy (9-3) at Navan 1m 2f 3yo hcp.
Absorbing (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway and 4th 3f out, ridden from 2f out and weakened from 1f out, 9th of 11, 9l behind Baby Dinnis (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3yo hcp 47-65 pol.
