waited with, soon raced in 6th, headway and effort over 2f out, chased winner from over 1f out, 3rd and kept on same pace inside final furlong
soon raced in 3rd, effort over 2f out, switched right 1 1/2f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
led, headed over 2f out, 3rd over 1f out, 2nd inside final furlong and kept on without troubling winner
4th early, soon raced in 5th, closed up approaching straight, led over 2f out, quickly asserted, stayed on well
soon raced in 2nd, ridden over 3f out, soon lost position and one pace
waited with, soon in rear, pushed along before straight, soon no extra
5th early, soon raced in 4th, closed up from halfway on inner, not much room briefly approaching straight, soon pushed along and kept on same pace from over 2f out
Gordon Elliott has won the last four including with Samcro in 2016 and Envoi Allen last year. PENCILFULLOFLEAD bids to emulate his illustrious stable companions and he overcame greenness to win impressively at Down Royal. Uhtred beat a big field of bumpers on his debut at Fairyhouse in April and though not quite able to peg back stablemate Front View at Cork last month it was a cracking effort and he won't go down without a fight. Dewcup beat Fantasia D'alene four lengths at Punchestown and, though penalised, is better off at the weights and should have little difficulty confirming the form.
Dewcup (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, 8th halfway, 6th over 3f out, good headway on outer over 2f out, travelled well and closed over 1f out, soon led, ridden and asserted final 150 yards, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov beating Fantasio D'alene (11-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Pencilfulloflead (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Tracked leaders on outer, pushed along in 3rd 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, headway to lead over 1f out, reminder 1f out, stayed on well under hands and heels final furlong, won at Down Royal 2m sft in Nov beating Hollow Sound (11-11) by 4 1/4l, 8 ran.
Fantasio D'alene (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, improved to lead over 5f out, headed under 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression on winner under 1f out, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Dewcup (11-7) at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Uhtred (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, closer in 3rd before 3 out, slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, pressed leaders 2 out, challenged last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 24, 1 3/4l behind Front View (11-7) at Cork 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Stansfield (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden in moderate 4th 3f out, soon no impression, went moderate 3rd inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 18l behind The Big Getaway (11-7) at Punchestown 2m sft in Nov.
Buck Rogers (IRE) Dubai Destination gelding out of Fair Ina.
Darrens Hope (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Soon tracked leaders, on terms on outer approaching straight, soon headed and no impression, 6th of 11, 32 3/4l behind Bigbadandbeautiful (11-9) at Navan 2m lst (1) sft in Nov.
