chased leaders, 5th halfway, no impression in 4th 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong to go 2nd close home
held up towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along and no impression in rear approaching straight, no extra over 1f out
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no impression on easy winner in 3rd over 1f out, kept on one pace
led, ran freely, headed under 2f out and soon no impression on easy winner, no extra inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden to go 5th early straight, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no impression in 6th early straight, no extra, kept on one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress straight and led under 2f out, soon asserted and stayed on well inside final furlong, easily
Sailors Warn is a decent dual-purpose performer who might have won at Downpatrick last month but for falling though he's always shown better form on much softer ground. The veteran Aladdins Cave has an excellent strike-rate of 10-45 but has been chasing and may not have the pace for this nowadays. Sierra Sun won a soft-ground maiden at Gowran in August but ran poorly on her reappearance at Leopardstown which didn't look her true form. She can do better and Long Journey Home will enjoy the conditions more than most. Mandatario made a winning debut at Gowran in September 2013 then ran in two Listed races. He reappears after a very long absence and may not be up to conceding lumps of weight to UNREQUITED. Ger Lyons' charge finished first in a Wexford handicap in August but his rider failed to weigh in. He wasn't beaten far in three races at Dundalk later and looks well treated.
Mandatario 5-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 4f out, ridden and dropped to 3rd early straight, no extra from over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Mekong River (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 1f 2yo lst stk (1) sft in Nov '13.
Cullentry Royal 9-1 (9-8) Held up 5th, pushed along in 4th entering straight, ridden and dropped to 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 8, 16l behind Zafayan (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp.
Sierra Sun (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Ran 7th, 5th 5f out, pushed along in 6th over 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, soon eased, 8th of 9, 20l behind Aussie Valentine (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 1f hcp.
Long Journey Home (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Chased leaders on outer, led after 1f, clear after 3f, collided with rail under 5f out, ridden and reduced advantage 2f out, headed over 1 1/2f out, no extra 1f out, 5th of 8, 9l behind Hes Our Music (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Dec.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 40-1 (8-3) Towards rear early, soon mid-division in 16th, went 11th 1f out, soon no impression, one pace, 10th of 22, 6l behind Clondaw Warrior (8-8) at Leopardstown 1m 7f hcp in Oct.
Aladdins Cave 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 2nd 4f out, led entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 9l behind Knight's Parade (10-12) at Dundalk 2m am hcp 50-80 pol in Feb.
Unrequited (IRE) 2-1 (9-5) Soon led, strongly pressed 2f out, soon joined, headed over 1f out where 3rd, one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Venezia (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn stks pol in Oct.
