disputed lead until headed 3rd, not fluent 5th and mistake next, pushed along 5 out, ridden and no impression in moderate 6th after 3 out, kept on without threatening to go moderate 4th run-in
held up towards rear, progress to 3rd approaching 4 out, pushed along in 2nd after 3 out, tried to close 2 out, ridden and no impression when not fluent last, kept on same pace, not match winner
mid-division, ridden and no impression after 3 out, never a factor
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, pushed along in 5th when not fluent 3 out, ridden and no impression in moderate 4th after 3 out, mistake next, weakened
tracked leaders, 2nd from 3rd, 4th approaching 4 out, ridden and no impression in moderate 5th after 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept on one pace
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden and no extra after 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 6 out, ridden and no impression in moderate 3rd approaching 2 out, no extra from before last
disputed lead early until led from 3rd, 2 length lead 2 out, ridden hands and heels and kept on well to maintain advantage run-in
As the race title implies, these are a moderate bunch though Mikey O'Connor steered Ajijic to victory in a point at Dromahane on Sunday. Derek O'Connor rides six-times point-to-point winner SLIABH MHUIRE LASS and his mount, who was running in handicaps last summer, may be good enough. Cardboard Gangster is very lightly raced and finished second in a Punchestown maiden hurdle in September though was beaten 15 lengths. Flurry Yeats was beaten 18 lengths into second in a Wexford bumper in March but looks a bigger threat than Three Loud Knocks, who was well beaten over the banks course at Punchestown last week.
Ajijic (IRE) (12-2) Ld/disp, wo 6out, mstk next, 1l 3rd aftr 4out, ld with sl adv when qckr jmp 2out, 1l adv bef last, ko best, won at Dromahane 3m gs in May beating Kind Witness (11-6) by shd, 7 ran.
Cardboard Gangster 40-1 (12-0) Mid-division, 6th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, ridden and slight mistake next, disputed briefly after 2 out, headed entering straight, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Get Rich Die Plyin (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 7f mdn Yielding in Sep.
Da Boy Charlie (IRE) 28-1 (12-2) Chased leaders, 3rd from halfway, ridden on inner before 2 out and soon no impression in 5th, kept on same from before last, 5th of 14, 34 3/4l behind Complete Sizing (12-2) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Flurry Yeats (IRE) 16-1 (12-2) Held up towards rear, progress into 6th 6f out, 2nd 4f out, ridden 3f out, no impression on winner 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 18l behind High Stakes (12-2) at Wexford 2m 4f sft in Mar.
Roundstone (IRE) (12-2) Chsd ldr, 3rd 1/2way, wknd bef 4out, no ex in mod 8th bef 2out, ko bhnd, 7th of 11, 30l behind Er Dancer (12-2) at Lisronagh 3m gs in May.
Star Wizard (IRE) 66-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, slight mistake 9th, ridden and slight mistake 11th, pulled up before 5 out, at Tramore 2m 6f gd in Apr.
Three Loud Knocks (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, never a factor, detached from 10th, hampered before 13th, no threat from 8 out, tailed off, 9th of 15, dist behind Singing Banjo (11-9) at Punchestown 3m 1f gf in Apr.
Sliabh Mhuire Lass (IRE) (11-1) Mid-div until rr from 4th & mstk & ur 5th, at Mainstown 3m in Dec.