tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, improved to dispute lead on inner 2 out, led and ridden entering straight, joined at last, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home
tracked leaders, improved into 3rd 3 out, soon weakened quickly, trailing from next
raced in close 2nd, led after 3rd, ridden and headed entering straight, rallied to dispute lead at last, improved to lead again inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
tracked leaders and took keen hold, mistakes 3rd and 5th, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no impression in 3rd when bad mistake at last, soon dropped to 4th
in rear, jinked left and unseated rider at 2nd
always behind, trailing when slight mistake 4th, never a factor
mid-division, dropped to moderate 8th 3 out, moderate 5th and pushed along after 2 out, went 3rd after last, ridden and kept on run-in
rear of mid-division, moderate 7th 3 out, no impression from next, moderate 5th when mistake at last
led early, headed after 3rd, mistake 4 out, dropped to 6th next, soon ridden and weakened
tracked leaders on outer, 5th on outer 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
Aidan O'Brien runs a couple of his inmates from the Flat with KING OF ARAGON now sporting the McManus colours and preferred to stablemate Best Kept Secret on his hurdling bow. The former has won at Tipperary and is rated higher on the level than today's opposition including Swamp Fox. Gordon Elliott also runs two with Calin Des Ongrais, placed in a bumper in France, preferred to Steady Major while Krissy's Kisses and Lord Carleton look likely improvers with recent hurdling debuts under their belts.
Best Kept Secret (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching straight, soon raced on outer, no impression from under 2f out, one pace, 8th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Solar Benny (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Calin Des Ongrais (FR) (10-1) 4th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Capeland (9-10) at Le Lion D'angers 1m 3f mdn stks sft in May.
Jazz Ranger (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 1st, slight mistake 2nd and mistake 3rd, dropped off leaders halfway, jumped left 5th, jumped left and mistake 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, 9th of 18, dist behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
King Of Aragon (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) Dwelt, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to 7th 1f out, no extra and eased inside final furlong, 9th of 10, 9 1/2l behind Duca Valentinois (9-7) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Lord Carleton (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, slight mistake 5th, ridden and no impression 3 out, weakened and tailed off, 16th of 18, dist behind Ivanovich Gorbatov (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Steady Major (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, 10th of 15, dist behind Allblak Des Places (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Swamp Fox (IRE) 15-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th early, pushed along into straight, challenged in 2nd from 3f out, led 2f out, headed closing stages and dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Giant Redwood (9-5) at Navan 2m mdn gd in Oct.
Walkabout (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and no extra approaching straight, weakened, 15th of 16, dist behind Shamar (10-0) at Galway 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Krissy's Kisses (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 5th before 2 out, soon no extra, slight mistake last, 5th of 7, 24 1/2l behind Footpad (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m mdn sft in Nov.
Windsor Higgins (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Prominent, soon moderate 3rd, no impression in 6th from over 1f out, one pace, 8th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Brokopondo (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
