led, mistake 5th and joined, mistake 3 out and headed, soon weakened
towards rear, some progress after 2 out, pushed along in 7th before last, no impression
tracked leaders on inner, 6th 2 out, soon no impression
prominent, bad mistake at 1st, pushed along 6th, soon lost position, weakened from 3 out
in rear, slight mistake 7th, fell next
mid-division, headway into 4th 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, 4th entering straight, close 3rd at last, improved to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
tracked leaders, 7th 3 out, ridden and no impression from next
mid-division, 6th 3 out, ridden in 5th next, 5th at last, progress after last, 3rd inside final furlong, kept on without reaching winner in 2nd close home
rear of mid-division on outer, progress into 3rd at halfway, 2nd 2 out, led entering straight, soon ridden, headed at last, dropped to 4th and no extra inside final furlong
prominent, took keen hold, disputed lead from 5th, led 3 out, ridden and headed entering straight, 4th at last, no impression
towards rear, progress into 8th 3 out, progress entering straight, 3rd before last, ridden to lead briefly at last, headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd close home
A four-year-old won this in 2016 so Brawler, who won a similar handicap to this in fine style at Fairyhouse a month ago, should make a bold bid to complete a double as an 8lb rise doesn't look excessive. However, BURLESQUE QUEEN (NAP) is looking well handicapped and will be difficult to beat. Liz Doyle's mare went up 11lb for an easy victory at Clonmel then was headed close home by Treacysenniscorthy on this track and trip - the winner went on to score at Leopardstown this week. Oscar Knight is the only course and distance winner though he's on a long losing run as is Morga, though the latter has been racing in better company and has dropped to a lowly mark. R'evelyn Pleasure is much better known as a chaser but is 13lb lower back over timber. Thosedaysaregone pops up every now and then and the market is best watched.
Blast Of Koeman (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression 3 out, under pressure in 5th when slight mistake 2 out, no extra, 7th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Powersbomb (10-9) at Cork 2m 1f hcp sft in Nov.
Thosedaysaregone (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, no extra from 1 1/2f out, never a factor, 7th of 10, 16l behind Presto (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 6f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Jimmy Two Times (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Always behind, jumped right at times and reminder after 1st, jumped right and almost unseated rider 5th and then trailing, pulled up before 2 out, at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Oscar Knight (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Waited with, 13th from 7th, pushed along briefly from next, headway straight, no impression when impeded at last, kept on same pace without threatening, 7th of 16, 23 1/2l behind The Jam Man (10-2) at Navan 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Polished Steel (IRE) 50-1 (10-1) Led, ridden entering straight, headed before 2 out, weakened, 11th of 15, 33 3/4l behind Janidil (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Mister Eddman (IRE) 12-1 (11-13) Led, joined approaching 3rd, headed before 7th, slight mistake 8th and lost position, soon no impression, 12th of 15, dist behind Treacysenniscorthy (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Morga (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) In rear, headway into 9th entering straight, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Janidil (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Avellino (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, closed and on terms before straight travelling smoothly, headed between last 2, soon no extra in 4th and one pace, 4th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Brawler (9-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
R'evelyn Pleasure (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) In rear, reminder at 2nd, in touch in rear on outer when fell 4 out, at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Brawler (IRE) 6-1 (9-13) Soon mid-division, closed and on terms before straight travelling smoothly, narrowly headed after 2 out, on terms again before last where slight mistake, led run-in, quickly asserted and stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov beating Drumacoo (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Burlesque Queen (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Soon chased leaders, 5th at 5th, improved to challenge on inner approaching 2 out, led approaching straight travelling smoothly, slight mistake last, kept on well under pressure run-in, headed near finish, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Treacysenniscorthy (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Nobody Home (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Led, slight mistake 6th, pushed along approaching straight, soon joined and headed, weakened from before 2 out where not fluent, 12th of 13, dist behind Brawler (9-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Nov.
