held up, pushed along straight, went moderate 7th over 1f out, kept on same pace
soon led, pressed straight, joined over 1f out, soon headed and no extra, one pace
led early, raced in 2nd, on terms over 1f out, soon headed and one pace
towards rear, 10th after halfway, pushed along on outer before straight and some headway, no impression 1 1/2f out
soon chased leaders, 5th after halfway, pushed along straight, no impression 1 1/2f out
dwelt, held up, soon towards rear, pushed along straight, no impression 1 1/2f out
pushed along early, soon mid-division, 8th after halfway, slightly impeded towards outer into straight, soon no impression
prominent, 3rd after halfway, no impression from under 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased
prominent, 6th after halfway, pushed along from 3f out, dropped to moderate 8th over 1f out and no extra
towards rear, pushed along and headway straight, challenged 1f out, soon led, stayed on well
soon tracked leaders, not much room on rail briefly before halfway, soon 7th, pushed along over 3f out, lost place and no extra over 1f out
soon tracked leaders, 4th after halfway, closed travelling smoothly from 3f out, challenged 1f out, kept on without matching winner
held up, 9th after halfway, pushed along to go 5th 1f out, soon no impression and kept on
Beau Satchel was well beaten in this last year but won here in October and is always capable of winning in this sort of grade. The lightly-raced Adieux wasn't beaten far in three maidens before winning one at Dundalk and starts out in handicaps off a fair mark as does FOUNTAIN and it's the latter who is handed the vote. Jim Bolger's charge showed little in his opening runs but caught the eye when staying on strongly over the course and distance in October. Aussie Valentine has the benefit of a run at Naas under his belt and he performed very well there to finish runner-up. He's up 2lb but still looks on a decent enough mark to get involved in the finish. Aidan O'Brien runs De Coronado, a winner at Dundalk in August on just his second start and likely to kick-on this campaign.
Tony The Gent (IRE) 5-1 (9-12) Chased leader in 2nd, took keen hold early, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Beau Satchel (8-11) at Leopardstown 1m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Turbine (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out and no impression in 7th over 1f out, kept on one pace, never a factor, 7th of 8, 4 3/4l behind Sign of The Kodiac (9-10) at Dundalk 6f pol in Mar.
Aussie Valentine (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong into 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Brendan Brackan (9-12) at Naas 1m Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Castle Guest (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Slowly into stride, towards rear, kept on straight, 13th of 22, 9 3/4l behind Vastonea (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Spruce Meadows (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, pushed along in 5th 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Hawke (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 3f lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
De Coronado (USA) 3-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, good progress on outer into 4th 3f out, challenged 2f out, ridden to dispute and hung left 1 1/2f out, narrow lead inside final furlong and hung left under pressure, asserted close home, won at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Aug beating Balcony (9-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Canary Row (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, 9th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 17, 5 3/4l behind Brendan Brackan (9-12) at Naas 1m Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Misty Millie (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, soon eased, tailed off, last of 13, dist behind Ceol Na Nog (9-9) at Navan 1m 2f hcp fll Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Beau Satchel 17-2 (8-10) Held up, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, last of 7, 14 1/4l behind Chestnut Fire (8-12) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Katiymann (IRE) 11-4fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, 6th early, improved into 2nd travelling smoothly over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and attempted to assert from over 1f out, kept on well, headed close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Bainne (9-11) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Oct.
Lean And Keen (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Led, headed after 1f and chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out, 13th of 17, 16 3/4l behind Brendan Brackan (9-12) at Naas 1m Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Fountain (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up, 11th halfway, headway straight, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 20, 2 1/4l behind Escondida (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn Yielding in Oct.
Adieux (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress on inner to lead over 1f out and soon ridden, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, held on, won at Dundalk 1m mdn fll pol in Nov beating Surprisingly (9-0) by shd, 14 ran.
