Thunder Crash and Bold Knight fought out a thrilling finish under the title-chasing jockeys last week and the latter just seems to hold the advantage with a 2lb pull for a short-head. ADMODUM, who looked a bright prospect when completing a double in the spring, was having his first subsequent start when down the field behind Atlas last week. He wasn't knocked about and with that under his belt can return to winning ways. Clear Skies in another who has recently returned from a long break and though a disappointing favourite at the beginning of the month will have come on markedly and connections will be looking for compensation. Political Policy, eight times successful on the all-weather, doesn't win very often these days but is always capable of a big run while Spruce Meadows is better off at the weights with My Direction, who beat him narrowly here last month.
Spruce Meadows (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden entering straight, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Goldrush (8-12) at Dundalk 1m 3f lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
My Direction 20-1 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, slightly hampered 2f out, good headway 1 1/2f out to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well final furlong, reduced advantage close home, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Sep beating Jaqen H'ghar (10-0) by nk, 11 ran.
Moonmeister (IRE) 33-1 (8-10) Rear, 18th 4f out, not much room behind horses under 2f out, soon switched left, ridden into 10th 1f out, weakened closing stages, 14th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Laws Of Spin (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Political Policy (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind My Direction (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Sep.
Admodum (USA) 8-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, in rear, effort when short of room and checked 2f out, soon briefly pushed along under checked again over 1f out, unable to find racing room final furlong, 9th of 14, 4 1/4l behind Atlas (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Clear Skies 9-10fav (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway on outer into mid-division before halfway, pushed along 2f out and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Muniza (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn fll pol in Oct.
Eagle Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden entering straight, weakened from 2f out, 12th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Atlas (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Thunder Crash (IRE) 7-2fav (9-6) Prominent, soon tracked leader in 2nd, progress to lead approaching straight, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, all out, won at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct beating Bold Knight (9-0) by shd, 14 ran.
You Can't Catch Me (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Held up, 9th at 3rd, closer order when mistake 3 out, no impression when slight mistake last, one pace, 8th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Like An Open Book (11-1) at Clonmel 2m hcp gd in Sep.
Hes Our Music (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden and no extra 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 17th of 18, dist behind Warp Factor (9-12) at Navan 1m hcp sft in Oct.
Bold Knight 5-1 (9-0) Prominent, 4th halfway, progress to 3rd over 3f out, headway to 2nd over 2f out, strongly challenged leader over 1f out, ridden and kept on well final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 14, shd behind Thunder Crash (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Bay Hill (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Raced in 13th early, no impression straight, no extra and eased inside final furlong, last of 18, dist behind Laid Back Luke (9-11) at Gowran Park 1m 6f hcp hvy in Oct.
