chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, progress towards inner entering straight, 5th 3f out, closer in 3rd 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on well final furlong
chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd closing stages
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, closer on inner entering straight, ridden in 2nd 2f out, challenged over 1f out, under pressure in 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
reared as stalls opened and slowly into stride, always towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders and ran freely early, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out
mid-division, ridden and no impression 2f out, soon no extra
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong into 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner
mid-division, ridden 2f out, 9th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride, soon mid-division, short of room and hampered after 1 1/2f, towards rear halfway, progress towards inner and closer 3f out, ridden and no impression 2f out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
mid-division best, ridden towards outer 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leader, led after 1f, stayed on rail entering straight, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
dwelt and towards rear, ridden and progress under 2f out, stayed on into 6th on inner 1f out, no impression final furlong, kept on one pace
led, headed after 1f and chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out
Richard Fahey likes a crack at these big Irish handicaps and Spring Offensive ran quite well in this a year ago and continued in good form throughout the summer. Aussie Valentine finished runner-up last year and looks to have been primed to go one better after a run at Dundalk last month while Dermot Weld, who trained last year's winner, has the very lightly-raced Sikandarabad engaged this time. He was making his handicap debut when just touched off by Sea Wolf in the Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh and there's little between that pair. TEXAS ROCK, who finished a close sixth in that latter event, won twice subsequently and a recent run will have put him straight so he's taken to reverse the form and land this nice prize. He was a long way behind Marshall Jennings on this track last April but the latter doesn't win often and is up 6lb for finishing second in August. Stenographer made a successful debut at the Curragh a year ago and didn't have much racing subsequently.
Onenightidreamed (IRE) 9-4fav (9-10) Held up, soon disputed 6th, pushed along over 3f out, no impression 2f out, moderate 5th 1f out, kept on same pace without threatening final furlong, 4th of 9, 8l behind Lily's Rainbow (9-0) at Navan 1m lst stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Brendan Brackan (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Prominent, soon led, 4 lengths clear halfway, ridden under 2f out, reduced advantage over 1f out, kept on well, won at Cork 1m lst stks (1) sft in Oct beating Black Hawk War (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sea Wolf (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Led centre group, well on terms as groups merged over 2f out, ridden and weakened well inside final furlong, 11th of 19, 3 3/4l behind Yuften (9-1) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Marshall Jennings (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to challenge on outer 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Erysimum (8-12) at Killarney 1m lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Sikandarabad (IRE) 5-2fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 17, 7 1/4l behind Colour Blue (8-13) at Leopardstown 7f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Spring Offensive (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Treasury Notes (9-11) at Haydock 1m hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Red Avenger (USA) 3-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and progress to go 2nd 1f out, ridden and no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Another Story (8-11) at Dundalk 1m pol in Mar.
Stenographer (USA) 7-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out, 3rd and no impression on leaders 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 4 3/4l behind Black Hawk War (9-9) at Limerick 7f sft in Oct.
Tithonus (IRE) 10-1cfav (8-4) Close up, pushed along from halfway, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 21, shd behind Soie D'leau (8-13) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Aussie Valentine (IRE) 11-2 (9-8) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 6th over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind Shannon Soul (8-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Feb.
Canary Row (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Rear of mid-division, ridden in 9th over 2f out, went 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Beau Satchel (8-11) at Leopardstown 1m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Specific Gravity (FR) 10-1 (9-3) Towards rear, progress entering straight, headway between horses under 2f out and ridden to challenge over 1f out, led 100 yards out and kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Mar beating Duchessofflorence (8-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Gentil J (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) In rear, 9th halfway, good headway to 4th 2f out, pushed along to lead narrowly under 1f out, soon ridden, kept on best, won at Cork 1m hcp fll sft in Oct beating Special Focus (9-3) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mr Right (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division on outer and 8th from 3f out, ridden from 2f out, no impression and weakened from 1f out, 18th of 24, 10 1/4l behind Sea Wolf (9-5) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Aug.
Tribal Path (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed under 2f out, no impression in 4th 1f out, no extra, 4th of 5, 10 1/4l behind Another Story (8-11) at Dundalk 1m pol in Mar.
Brokopondo (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Mid-division, progress into 5th 2f out, ridden into close 3rd 1f out, stayed on to challenge inside final furlong, led close home, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Feb beating New Direction (9-5) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Lean And Keen (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd halfway, dropped to rear and ridden after 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Hidden Cyclone (11-12) at Listowel 2m sft in Sep.
Texas Rock (IRE) 5-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, travelled well 2f out, pushed along and dropped to 3rd 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Another Story (8-11) at Dundalk 1m pol in Mar.
