chased leaders, pushed along in 5th halfway, no extra in 7th 3f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders early, 7th halfway, ridden in 8th 3f out, soon no extra, eased over 1f out
led, ridden and challenged 2f out, soon headed, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, pushed along in moderate 6th 3f out, 5th 2f out, stayed on in 3rd 1f out, challenged inside final furlong and led on line
chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway into 2nd 3f out, led under 2f out, ridden and challenged 1f out, soon headed and hampered, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong
chased leader, pushed along halfway, ridden in 3rd 3f out, no extra in 6th 2f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, 6th halfway, headway into 4th 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, soon led and drifted left, strongly pressed and headed on line
mid-division best, ridden in 8th and no extra 2f out
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out
Merkel has had enough chances and looked very one-paced when only fourth in a claimer here last week when she finished behind tonight's rival Beforeit'Stoolate, who was making her debut. A Little Help's best run came here in November but she finished last on her handicap debut a week later. Destiny's Child showed major improvement from her opening run to finish a very good third to Miracle Cure over the C&D and wouldn't need to make much progress to take this but a chance is taken on Jim Bolger's FOINSE, who didn't show much on her debut at Leopardstown in July but is much more likely to do better in her second season and could be a cut above these.
A Little Help 16-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened, last of 14, 12l behind Banner Road (8-8) at Dundalk 7f 2yo hcp pol in Dec.
Beforeit'stoolate (IRE) 33-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Atticus Finch (9-5) at Dundalk 7f 3yo mdn clm stks pol.
Circumstances (IRE) 10-3 (9-0) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in 6th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 14, 11l behind Sindjara (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn fll pol in Dec.
Destiny's Child (GER) 66-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, pushed along in 5th halfway, ridden 3f out, no impression in 3rd 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, just held for 2nd close home, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Miracle Cure (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3yo mdn stks pol.
Elegant Sisi (IRE) 12-1 (8-4) Mid-division, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 7l behind Atticus Finch (9-5) at Dundalk 7f 3yo mdn clm stks pol.
Foinse (IRE) 5-1 (8-12) Chased leaders in 4th, pushed along entering straight, soon no extra, last of 5, 11l behind Camelot (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2yo mdn gd in Jul.
Majestic Timeline (IRE) Majestic Missile filly out of Brooklands Time.
Merkel (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 4th 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 6l behind Atticus Finch (9-5) at Dundalk 7f 3yo mdn clm stks pol.
Owega Dale (IRE) Refuse To Bend filly out of Spanish Falls.
Queenscliff (IRE) 28-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden in 9th and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 14, 11l behind Nero Emperor (9-5) at Dundalk 5f 2yo mdn stks pol in Nov.
