lead early, joined after 3rd, pushed along before 3 out and headed before next, soon ridden and no impression from before last
chased leader early, improved to dispute lead after 3rd, gained marginal lead before 2 out and soon asserted when ridden, kept on well run-in, comfortably
raced mainly in 3rd, ridden in 4th after 2 out and improved into 2nd before next, kept on run-in without matching winner
raced mainly in 4th, mistake 3 out, dropped to rear and soon ridden, no impression from before last and kept on same pace run-in
settled in rear, improved in 3rd before 2 out and soon ridden, no impression from before last and kept on same pace run-in
The front-running Mumbo Bay has a dual penalty and appears to be better suited by faster ground while Space Ship, a useful handicapper for John Gosden, will need to find more than what she's shown so far. Gordon Elliott tries Fort Smith in blinkers which could bring about some improvement but the form picks are Mckinley and PRINCELY CONN. The former landed a couple of minor events on good ground in the summer and was by no means disgraced in a tough four-year-old handicap at Listowel. He should have more to offer but it's Tom Mullins' charge who gets the nod as his bumper and maiden hurdle victories came in-between a head defeat by Sheamus at Galway and the winner has since scored twice.
Mumbo Bay (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Made all, slight mistake 4th, ridden a few lengths clear 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Galway 2m 4f nh nov hdl in Oct beating Kolaphos (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Mckinley 9-2fav (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, improved to 6th halfway, pushed along 3 out, ridden in 4th before last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 10l behind Orgilgo Bay (11-7) at Listowel 2m hcp hdl (grade c) gd in Sep.
Fort Smith (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, moderate 7th halfway, closer in 7th 4 out, pushed along and progress to 3rd 2 out, no extra and dropped to 5th at last, one pace, 5th of 11, 12l behind Give Me A Break (10-8) at Naas 2m 4f hcap hdle Grd C.
Princely Conn (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Chased leader in 2nd, not fluent 4th, got on terms on inner from before straight, led from last where not fluent, kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m mdn hdl gf in Oct beating Fill Your Hands (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Space Ship 50-1 (11-0) Always behind, no impression from 4 out, tailed off, never a factor, 12th of 13, well behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in May.
