chased leaders early, mid-division and reminder 6th, closer and chased leaders 2 out, ridden and disputed 2nd before straight, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace
disputed, slight bump 1st, soon chased leader, slightly slow 2nd, close up briefly after 6th, ridden and no extra after 2 out, weakened
held up, ridden into moderate 6th entering straight, kept on one pace from last
mid-division early, slight mistake 5th, closer in 5th halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, stayed on into 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in
soon chased leaders, disputing 2nd halfway, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner before last where slight mistake, kept on same pace
held up, towards rear for most, ridden and no impression 2 out
disputed briefly 1st, soon chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, disputing 2nd halfway, ridden in 4th after 2 out, no extra entering straight, kept on one pace
towards rear, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace straight
disputed, jumped right 1st, soon led, jumped slightly right 6th and pressed briefly, asserted before last, jumped slightly right last, pushed out briefly run-in, comfortably
Stansfield looked well suited by heavy conditions when scoring at Down Royal and again when a close third over hurdles at Fairyhouse. He holds Dis Donc on that earlier run while Benefit North ran moderately behind Weihnachts at Gowran on Tuesday after running well behind that winner on his previous start. Hesamanofhisword has yet to win though is generally thereabouts but this can go to STEER CLEAR. The winner of a Thurles handicap in October, he didn't get far on a return visit a few days later but looks the one to beat if fully wound-up.
Dis Donc (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, slow 4th, 5th halfway, pushed along after 4 out and no impression before next, ridden and left 4th 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Stansfield (11-1) at Down Royal 2m hvy in Feb.
Got Trumped 12-1 (8-8) Soon mid-division and raced in 8th, pushed along under 4f out, soon under pressure and weakened, last of 12, 13 1/4l behind Scholastic (8-6) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Jan.
Magnium (IRE) 18-1 (12-0) Soon led, ran freely, headed approaching 2 out, soon no impression and dropped to 4th early run-in, no extra, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Pakens Rock (12-0) at Galway 2m 2f sft in Oct.
Stansfield (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 3 out, joined entering straight and ridden, led 2 out, clear before last, reduced advantage inside final furlong, headed and dropped to 3rd last strides, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Coole Arcade (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hvy in Feb.
Hesamanofhisword (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Towards rear, 13th 4 out, progress and pushed along after 3 out, improved to 6th before last, no impression on leaders, kept on run-in, never on terms, 5th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Lord Lariat (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Benefit North (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, progress into 5th before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, close 4th and mistake 2 out, kept on one pace from before last, 5th of 11, 10l behind Weihnachts (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Champagne Beauty (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leader, 7th halfway, headway after 2 out, disputed 2nd at last (normal 2 out), soon under pressure and ridden in 2nd, weakened final furlong, 8th of 20, 18 1/4l behind Midnight Maestro (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Four Courts (IRE) 300-1 (12-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, 15th of 17, dist behind Captain Guinness (12-0) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
Steer Clear (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Prominent when mistake and unseated rider 2nd, at Thurles 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Nov.
