tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along entering straight, ridden to lead well over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and no impression in 5th 2f out, soon no extra
held up in rear, headway on outer to go 8th entering straight, soon ridden and no impression under 2f out
raced keenly on inner, 8th halfway, no extra from early straight, eased when beaten final furlong
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, went 2nd 1f out and kept on under pressure final furlong, not reach winner
mid-division, went 6th on outer halfway, ridden and no impression early straight, weakened
held up in rear of mid-division, 9th on inner halfway, 7th and ridden 2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong and kept on under pressure
rear of mid-division, 10th halfway, weakened early straight, eased when beaten, tailed off
mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression early straight, kept on one pace under pressure
always towards rear, ridden approaching straight, never a factor
tracked leader in 2nd, headway to lead briefly under 2f out, no extra from 1f out and weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden in 9th 2f out, kept on one pace under pressure final furlong
rear of mid-division, 10th halfway, weakened early straight, eased when beaten, tailed off
Plan A has been in fine form over timber and ran very well in the County Hurdle last month. He's won over this trip on the Flat and his stamina should come into play. Ghareer is another who has been going well over hurdles and scored at Gowran last month. He's on a tempting mark and is on the short-list along with Giant's Quest, who makes his handicap debut. He's already won a bumper and scored on the level at Ballinrobe so with a recent run over hurdles behind him he is expected to be in the shake-up. MIDNIGHT SOPRANO goes from strength-to-strength, however, and connections can't be unhappy with her handicap mark. She loves the conditions and young Marc Monaghan is very good value for his claim so Paul Deegan's mare can complete the hat-trick.
Midnight Soprano (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Led, headed over 4f out, ridden in 2nd 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m 1f stks sft beating Whipless (8-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Giant's Quest (AUS) 5-6fav (9-7) Soon tracked leader, led over 5f out, joined under 3f out, led again over 1f out, soon asserted under pressure, stayed on well, won at Ballinrobe 1m 6f mdn stks gd in Jul beating Moymore Lad (9-2) by 4l, 7 ran.
Princeton Plains (IRE) 3-1fav (8-5) Rear of mid-division, 12th halfway, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 15, 12l behind Celebrity Sevi (8-9) at Naas 1m 4f hcp in Oct.
Shamkhal (FR) (9-2) 4th of 0, 2l behind Golden Mirabelle (8-7) at Vittel(FR) 1m 2f 3yo stk sft in Aug.
Plan A (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead and race stands side over 1f out, headed narrowly approaching 1f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, kept on gamely to regain lead towards finish, won at Pontefract 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct '10 beating Palawi (9-7) by hd, 13 ran.
Bombadero (IRE) 33-1 (8-6) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, 11th of 16, 13l behind Royal Diamond (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gd.
Paddy The Celeb (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, no extra from over 2f out, 18th of 26, 25l behind Minsk (11-4) at Curragh 1m 4f gnt amt hcp 0-85 sft in Sep.
Rassi Maguire (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Always behind, 12th of 13, 15l behind Navy List (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f app hcp pol in Sep.
Face Value 6-4fav (9-6) Chased leading trio, effort to dispute 2nd 2f out, went 2nd soon after, lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 4l behind Illustrious Forest (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Adatara (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) Tracked leaders, 4th over 2f out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 3l behind Peaks Of Fire (9-7) at Killarney 1m 3f mdn stks gd in Jul.
Westhaven (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden into 2nd and edged right 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Tribes And Banner (11-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f Amateur Handicap (55-75) (4yo+) pol in Jan.
Ghareer (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, moderate 6th from over 6f out, ridden to close in 4th over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, 2nd near finish, not quite get to winner, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Dorset Square (9-3) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp 50-75 gd in Jul.
Articilitis (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Led, ridden entering straight, headed under 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 17l behind Apache Drums (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp 50-75 sft.
