tracked leaders in 3rd, closed up from over 5f out, soon disputed lead, travelling smoothly 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, soon pushed along, strongly pressed and edged slightly left inside final furlong, kept on well, all out
in rear, pushed along 5f out, no impression over 2f out, soon no extra
held up in 5th, pushed along briefly from halfway, improved to chase leaders on outer 2f out, challenged in 2nd final furlong and every chance, carried slightly left, kept on well, just failed
close up in 2nd, a little keen, pushed along over 3f out, one pace in 3rd inside final furlong
led, pressed from over 5f out, soon joined, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra and one pace in 4th inside final furlong
raced in 4th, pushed along from after halfway, no impression from 2f out in 5th
MY DIRECTION (NAP) provided her trainer with her first Flat winner at Gowran on Wednesday and is likely to go up by more than the 5lb penalty she carries here as it was a much better handicap than this so she can complete a quick double. The Ice Meister has won two of her 16 starts but has never run over a trip this far while Landsman only had two rivals to beat at Navan before floundering in the mud at Sligo. Mademoiselle Penny has only raced over this trip twice, winning here last August and beating a huge field at the Curragh in October so she's an obvious threat. Nicaragua made all at Gowran then found a 9lb rise too hot to handle on softer ground at Galway while Escape Paradise tackles the trip for the first time and has gone up 4lb despite her defeat at Leopardstown.
My Direction 5-1 (8-5) Held up in rear early, headway into 3rd on outer at halfway, went 2nd entering straight, ridden to dispute lead 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp gd in Aug beating Xebec (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
The Ice Meister (IRE) 5-2fav (9-9) Settled 5th, progress to 2nd over 2f out, ridden in 3rd 1 1/2f out, dropped to 4th under 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Byron Beauty (9-6) at Tipperary 1m 1f Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Landsman (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Raced in rear, progress into 3rd and pushed along from 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 15 1/2l behind Sea Swift (9-4) at Sligo 1m 2f hvy in Aug.
Mademoiselle Penny (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Soon led, joined under 4f out, pushed along approaching straight, headed 1 1/2f out, soon no extra, 5th of 13, 11l behind Maknificent (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp fll gf in Jun.
Nicaragua 7-1 (9-4) Led after 1f, pushed along and headed entering straight, no impression in 3rd 1f out, no extra, 8th of 15, 11 1/4l behind Striking Gold (8-10) at Galway 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Escape Paradise (IRE) 7-2fav (9-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, driven into 2nd over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression on winner final 100 yards, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Mainicin (8-13) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
