led, headed 2nd, ridden and headway to challenge over 1 out, easily
held up towards rear, never dangerous
tracked leader, led at 2nd, driven along and headed over 1 out, weakened run-in
held up towards rear, driven along and mistake 2 out, stayed on flat
held up in midfield, mistake 5th, pulled up 2 out
Triple Grade 1 winner ABACADABRAS only had two runs last season and reappeared after a long break in a Grade 3 at Tipperary last week where he got tired in the closing stages after travelling well. That should have put him straight and with race conditions in his favour he can take this before heading for bigger things. He's rated 3lb higher than Darver Star and gets 10lb from Gavin Cromwell's charge who arrives in top form and will find any flaws in the selection's armour. Dollar Value won two handicaps over fences before finding Grade 2 company beyond him at Gowran and he has a bit to find with the principals on hurdles form.
Darver Star (IRE) 15-2 (11-13) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pressed leader before 3 out, led 3 out, asserted after next, 4 lengths lead last, pushed out and kept on well, readily, won at Galway 2m 5f Yielding in Sep beating Happy Jacky (11-3) by 8 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dark Voyager (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, pushed along 4f out and no impression over 2f out, no threat from over 1f out, 11th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Sheishybrid (10-0) at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Dollar Value (USA) 22-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, improved to lead after 3rd, bad mistake 5 out, headed next, soon disputed again, pushed along and headed entering straight, lost place 3 out, weakened, last of 6, dist behind Easy Game (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Typical Thomas (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 6th after 5th, effort 3 out, 4th 2 out, ridden before last where not fluent, weakened run-in, 4th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Ambitious Fellow (11-10) at Listowel 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Sep.
Abacadabras (FR) 3-1 (12-0) Raced 3rd, 3rd behind clear leader at 3rd, took closer order 4 out, closed 2 out, under pressure in 3rd before last where slight mistake, weakened, 3rd of 5, 14 1/2l behind Jesse Evans (11-3) at Tipperary 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
