took keen hold, soon raced in 5th, no extra from over 2f out
dwelt, soon disputed lead, led inside first 2f, pressed from 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
soon raced in 3rd, challenged and every chance in 2nd from 2f out, not match winner and kept on same pace inside final furlong
raced in 8th early, 10th halfway, raced towards outer straight, no extra 2f out
disputed lead early, soon raced in 4th, no extra and one pace from 2f out
disputed lead early, soon raced in 6th, 5th straight, 4th 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon raced in 9th, no extra 2f out
dwelt, raced in 10th early, 7th halfway, no impression 2f out
held up, soon towards rear and raced on outer, no impression and kept on without threatening from 2f out
dwelt, raced in 12th early, no extra from over 2f out
soon disputed lead, headed inside first 2f, raced in 2nd after, 3rd 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
dwelt, held up, raced on outer straight, no impression and kept on without threatening from 2f out
waited with, soon raced in 11th, headway straight, chased leaders and one pace 2f out
dwelt, held up, no impression and one pace 2f out
raced in 7th early, 8th halfway, no extra from over 2f out
BEST NOT ARGUE switched to Joseph O’Brien’s yard in August and has won both subsequent starts. She has a 13lb hike to contend with today after winning easily at Gowran but was rated higher last year and the hat-trick beckons. It was testing going when Shifted Strategy won at Listowel and recent course and distance winner Hasselnott is preferred representing a yard that has won this twice in the last four years. Pushaq is upped 8lb for a winning easily at Gowran while Quinns Red Rose is a maiden winner making her handicap debut and it would be no surprise to see a much better effort today from Dermot Weld’s unexposed Rock Sound.
Agent Zigzag (IRE) 14-1 (8-8) Mid-division and 7th from halfway, pushed along from 3f out and ridden from 2f out, no impression from 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 11th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Lucius Tiberius (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Vocal Music (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Mid-division early, soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, close up entering straight, no extra 1f out, 9th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Dream Walker (9-11) at Galway 1m 1f hvy in Sep.
Best Not Argue (IRE) 2-1fav (9-12) Mid-division, ridden to progress in 6th 2f out, stayed on to lead 1f out, kept on strongly to assert inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m hcp hvy in Sep beating Invincible Queen (9-3) by 3l, 16 ran.
Hasselnott 9-1 (9-13) Towards rear, 13th approaching straight, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong and stayed on well, won at Navan 1m hcp gd in Sep beating Prove The Point (9-11) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
Quinns Red Rose (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Soon led, joined halfway, led again into straight, ridden and went on from 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong, reduced lead and just holding on at the finish, won at Listowel 1m mdn fll hvy in Sep beating Bright Eyed (9-0) by nk, 16 ran.
Extrasensory (IRE) 33-1 (8-4) Raced in 12th early, soon 10th, no extra straight, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 16, dist behind Insignia Of Rank (8-4) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Massa Lubrense (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Mid-division, pushed along and no impression in rear of mid-division under 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, never a factor, 9th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Rattling Jewel (9-8) at Listowel 7f hcp hvy in Sep.
Passing Trade (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong to go 4th close home, 4th of 10, 2l behind Innamorare (8-10) at Cork 1m hcp fll gd in Oct.
Rock Sound (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Mid-division, pushed along and no impression in rear of mid-division approaching straight, ridden and kept on one pace from over 1f out, never a factor, 6th of 14, 9l behind Truffles (9-13) at Galway 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Herdwick 16-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden and no impression 2 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 10th of 15, 14 3/4l behind Time Queen (8-13) at Listowel 7f hcp hvy in Sep.
Akua (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Prominent early, soon dropped to mid-division and 8th from halfway, ridden on outer from 2f out and soon no impression, kept on into moderate 6th inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 19 1/4l behind Burning Question (9-0) at Listowel 1m hcp fll Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Prove The Point (IRE) 4-1jfav (9-13) Mid-division early, soon chased leaders, effort straight, one pace from over 1f out, 12th of 16, 13 3/4l behind Nam (9-8) at Naas 1m hcp gd in Oct.
Reckless Lad (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Mid-division early, soon chased leaders, effort and on terms 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on without matching principals after, 5th of 14, 1/4l behind Tennesse Waltz (9-3) at Naas 1m gd in Oct.
Our Anniversary (FR) 11-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden and no impression over 2f out, no extra entering straight, 11th of 16, 28 3/4l behind Gentil J (9-6) at Galway 1m 1f hcp hvy in Sep.
Lonely The Brave (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Muzbid (9-2) at Gowran Park 1m gf in May.
Shifted Strategy (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Pushed along briefly early, prominent and raced in 3rd, closed up halfway, soon on terms, gained narrow lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Listowel 1m hcp hvy in Sep beating Dharma Rain (8-12) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Pushaq (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Soon led, went on from 2f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 1m hcp gf in Sep beating Perfect Tapatino (10-2) by 5l, 14 ran.
Nivvo (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Pushed along to track leader early, led after 1f, headed after 3f, 3rd halfway, under pressure approaching straight, ridden and weakened 2f out, last of 20, 20 1/2l behind Innamorare (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m hcp gf in Aug.
Fearaun (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Waited with, soon raced in 12th, headway straight, no impression from under 2f out, 11th of 16, 11 3/4l behind Perfect Tapatino (9-2) at Naas 1m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Avalanche 9-1 (9-13) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and some headway in mid-division over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 17, 8 1/2l behind Stormy Air (9-4) at Cork 1m hcp gd in Oct.
Vocal Relation (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Pushed along briefly early, soon towards rear, 8th approaching halfway, progress and effort straight, no impression and one pace 1 1/2f out, 6th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Iron Blue (9-11) at Gowran Park 7f hcp gf in Jun.