waited with, soon towards rear, mid-division before halfway, 7th before straight, soon effort to chase winner, kept on without quite getting there for 2nd inside final furlong
soon pushed along and reminder, towards rear for most, never a factor
soon raced in 6th, 5th before straight, soon no extra and one pace
waited with, soon towards rear, pushed along after halfway, soon no danger
raced in 9th early, pushed along after halfway, soon no danger
dwelt, rear of mid-division, pushed along over 4f out and some headway, no impression approaching straight
soon prominent and raced in 4th, effort from before straight, soon no extra and one pace
pushed along early, soon prominent and on terms inside 1st 2f, soon raced in close 2nd, stumbled slightly halfway, disputed again approaching straight, soon led, quickly joined, wandered slightly and headed under 2f out, kept on same pace
soon raced in 5th, 6th before straight, soon 5th again and one pace
pushed along briefly early, prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along again over 4f out, soon no extra and weakened
raced in 7th early, ridden along at stages, weakened approaching straight
raced in 10th early, pushed along at stages, never a factor
raced in 8th early, headway into 3rd before straight, led under 2f out, ridden and soon asserted, stayed on well
soon led, joined inside 1st 2f, soon regained lead, joined again approaching straight, soon headed, quickly back on terms until headed and no extra from under 2f out, one pace
dwelt, rear of mid-division, no impression approaching straight, kept on without threatening from under 2f out
Merlin Giant is a progressive bumper who scored comfortably at Ballinrobe a couple of weeks ago. Ricky Bobby was always travelling easily when landing a Cork handicap hurdle in July while Dani Barcelona won a Clonmel bumper and had the rest a long way behind when runner-up to Ballinlough Gale over 1m6f at Gowran. Mcpherson was unlucky in-running over this trip at Limerick then found 1m1f too short at Leopardstown while Rekero, a 725,000gns yearling by Fastnet Rock out of a Champion Stakes winner, has been racing over shorter and should be much better suited by stepping up. FLORA is by Galileo out of Irish Oaks winner Moonstone. She's only had one run back in April when staying on over 1m2f so gets the vote to make a successful reappearance.
Merlin Giant (FR) 4-9fav (11-2) Held up in touch, a little keen, 5th halfway, headway travelling well to 3rd 2f out, soon 2nd, pushed along to challenge entering straight, on terms 1f out, led final 150 yards, pushed out and kept on well, won at Ballinrobe 2m Yielding - Soft in Sep beating Eco Pete (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Silverstrand (IRE) (9-1) last of 12, 9 1/2l behind Golden Doc (9-1) at Senonnes-Pouance 1m 7f mdn stks gd in Oct.
Dani Barcelona (IRE) 3-1 (9-4) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden in close 2nd on wide outer 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Ballinlough Gale (9-9) at Gowran Park 1m 6f mdn gd in Sep.
Miss Polly Shelby (IRE) 300-1 (9-10) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 2 1/2f out, 10th of 14, 19 3/4l behind Pappina (9-2) at Galway 1m 4f mdn fll gd in Sep.
Drury Lane (IRE) 200-1 (8-9) Mid-division well off the pace, losing place over 3f out, soon ran wide and well beaten, last of 8, dist behind Inigo Jones (8-9) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Apr.
Mankhool (IRE) New Approach gelding out of Majestic Manner.
Mcpherson 3-1 (9-7) In touch on outer, 3rd 4f out, pushed along 3f out, progress to 2nd under 2f out, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out, dropped to 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Gaheris (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 1f mdn gd in Jul.
Rekero (IRE) 4-1 (9-7) Disputed lead, pushed along 3f out, headed and ridden entering straight, no impression on winner over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Safari Quest (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn gd in Sep.
Scrum Half (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Soon close up in 2nd, on terms before straight, soon pushed along, headed from 2f out, dropped to last over 1f out, soon weakened and eased, last of 4, 14 3/4l behind Max Mayhem (9-4) at Roscommon 1m 2f Yielding in May.
Breffni Girl (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Pappina (9-2) at Galway 1m 4f mdn fll gd in Sep.
Catch (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Slight bump leaving stalls, soon mid-division, ridden and dropped towards rear after 4f, no extra over 3f out, 12th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Pappina (9-2) at Galway 1m 4f mdn fll gd in Sep.
Ellie Tom (IRE) 250-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, never a factor, last of 17, dist behind Bonte Moi (9-2) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Empyrea (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Towards rear, pushed along in moderate 9th 2f out, soon ridden, headway into 4th inside final furlong, 3rd and stayed on well close home, 3rd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Safari Quest (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn gd in Sep.
Flora (IRE) 11-8fav (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd 2f out, soon ridden, 4th and briefly short of room inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 4th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Party House (9-2) at Naas 1m 2f mdn fll gd in Apr.
The Fallen Madonna (IRE) 150-1 (9-2) Completely missed break, raced in rear, niggled along in 15th halfway, kept on final furlong, never a factor, 14th of 15, 25 3/4l behind Kirkland Lady (9-2) at Galway 1m 4f mdn fll gd in Aug.
Ricky Bobby (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division early, closer in 6th halfway, 4th 4 out, disputed and slight mistake 3 out, soon led travelling well, ridden after 2 out, kept on well from before last, won at Cork 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Jul beating Rock On Seamie (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Rock Crusher (IRE) 66-1 (9-5) Mid-division, bumped early, weakened from 2f out, never a factor, last of 16, 19 1/4l behind Aurora Eclipse (9-0) at Naas 5f mdn Yielding in Oct.
Kujuku (IRE) 28-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along halfway and no impression early straight, weakened, 15th of 16, 34 3/4l behind Alex D (9-7) at Limerick 7f mdn hvy in Oct.
