soon led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, no impression final 100 yards
mid-division, pushed along and switched right over 2f out, no impression in 7th over 1f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride, always rear, pushed along entering straight and no extra over 2f out
held up towards rear, some headway on inner 2f out, switched right and 5th over 1f out, stayed on well outer inside final furlong to lead closing stages
rear of mid-division, pushed along and dropped towards rear early straight, no extra, eased final furlong
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th under 2f out and no impression 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, headway in straight and went 3rd 2f out, ridden over 1f out and kept on one pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along early straight and 6th 2f out, soon no extra
rear of mid-division, pushed along early straight and no impression under 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, slightly hampered after 1f, pushed along entering straight, ridden on outer 2f out and kept on one pace inside final furlong
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along to challenge 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, headed closing stages
mid-division, some headway on inner entering straight, ridden in 4th under 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and switched right over 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, no extra
Massif Central hasn't won for a year but has been racing at a higher level than this and can go well despite a huge weight. Espoir D'Soleil has only won once but is gradually dropping to a winnable mark while Downdraft, who went up 8lb for landing a lucrative Navan handicap, has been competing against better opposition and has slipped a few pounds. The latter finished behind TUDOR CITY when Tony Martin's charge ran a cracker to finish runner-up in a premier handicap at the Curragh last time and ,with just a 1lb rise to contend with, that form should be good enough for this. Tremendous Leap has been running well against similar opposition and can make his presence felt from the bottom of the weights.
Massif Central (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Pressed leader in 2nd, ridden to dispute 2 1/2f out, headed under 2f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Global Giant (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
Tennessee Wildcat (IRE) 18-1 (9-13) Waited with, 7th approaching halfway, effort straight, no extra over 1f out, last of 11, 16l behind Still Standing (9-4) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Captain Morley 25-1 (9-12) Held up, soon in rear, effort on outer straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace without threatening, 8th of 16, 14 1/4l behind Insignia Of Rank (8-4) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Downdraft (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden in 10th over 2f out, no impression, 7th of 19, 4 1/4l behind Hamley (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Wajeez (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along 2f out, ridden and no impression on winner from over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 6 1/2l behind Drombeg Dream (9-4) at Limerick 7f hvy in Oct.
Espoir D'Soleil (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Pushed along and reminder early, soon raced in 2nd, challenged and on terms from 2f out, not match winner and one pace from 1f out, 3rd of 13, 4 3/4l behind Hamley (9-6) at Roscommon 1m 2f hcp fll gd in Sep.
Tudor City (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden in 5th 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd near line, 2nd of 19, 2 1/4l behind Hamley (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Great Grey (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, challenged on inner over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Dream Walker (9-11) at Galway 1m 1f hvy in Sep.
Merited (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Waited with, raced in 14th early, headway and effort on outer straight to chase leaders, soon no impression, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner near line, 2nd of 16, 3 1/4l behind Insignia Of Rank (8-4) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Future Proof (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along in 3rd under 3f out, switched right and ridden 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Still Standing (9-5) at Ballinrobe 1m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
New Direction (IRE) 9-2jfav (9-2) Disputed early, chased leaders after 1f, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Ancient Sands (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Sep.
Tremendous Leap 10-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, pressed leader 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Aussie Valentine (10-0) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Swiss Cottage 14-1 (8-9) Dwelt and towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 10th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Aussie Valentine (10-0) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
