tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, not fluent 3 out, 4th and switched right before next, pushed along and progress in 3rd approaching last, ridden and quickened well to lead run-in, kept on well
tracked leader, ran freely, mistake 1st, led next, slight mistake 3 out, pushed along and headed before last, ridden and no impression in 3rd run-in
held up, 4th halfway, progress travelling well in 2nd after 3 out, led before last, ridden and headed run-in, no impression on winner
led, headed 2nd, not fluent 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra in 4th after 2 out, weakened
chased leader, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression 2 out, weakened
Labaik refused to race twice on the Flat before a surprise victory at Punchestown but meets much better class rivals here. LE MARTALIN won a Listowel bumper in a canter then a maiden hurdle at Galway in even more emphatic style. This is a step-up in class but he should be good enough to complete a hat-trick. Mick Jazz was showing real potential around this time a year ago and was having his first start for Gordon Elliott when scoring at Clonmel last month. He'll need to find more here but looks capable of doing so. The assessor reacted to Wakea's facile victory in a Down Royal handicap by raising him 18lb so it's no surprise to see him running at Grade 3 level though he'll need to find even more.
Labaik (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up, 7th halfway, good progress on outer after 2 out to lead early straight, asserted run-in and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m mdn gd in Oct beating Top Othe Ra (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
Le Martalin (FR) 4-5fav (11-12) Tracked leader, ran freely, mistake 3rd, 2nd halfway, not fluent 3 out, progress to lead 2 out and soon asserted, 4 lengths clear last, stayed on well, easily, won at Galway 2m mdn gd in Oct beating Chasing Yesterday (11-12) by 17l, 12 ran.
Mick Jazz (FR) 9-10fav (11-12) won at Clonmel 2m mdn gd in Oct beating Russellstown (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Wakea (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Prominent and led from 2nd, extended lead to 8 lengths at 4th, slight mistake 4 out, pushed along and still clear when slight mistake 2 out, mistake last, kept on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m hcp gd in Nov beating Ainslie (9-12) by 9l, 14 ran.
Jaime Sommers (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, progress in 3rd 2 out, pushed along to challenge last, ridden and kept on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 8, shd behind Abbey Magic (11-3) at Wexford 2m 4f gd in Oct.
