mid-division, lost place 7th, soon beaten
mid-division, lost place 7th, behind, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, lost place 7th, soon beaten, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon ridden to lead 2 out, kept on approaching last, driven clear run-in
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden and headed next, soon one pace
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, ridden and chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on
towards rear, chased leaders 3 out, headway and every chance approaching next, ridden and soon one pace
led, hit 7th, weakened quickly, pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden and lost place 3 out, pulled up before next
always behind
towards rear, ridden after 3 out, soon no impression
Nonrunner
A competitive handicap where Smart Man bids to complete a three timer for the Evelyn Slack yard but we prefer the claims of Make It Blossom. Make It Blossom runs off a 13lb higher mark than his Irish rating and has to be respected on the basis of his fourth place at the Limerick christmas festival. That effort was achieved on deep ground which would not have been ideal and he hails from a yard that shrewdly place their horses. A fortunate winner on his last outing, Smart Man nonetheless battled on in game fashion when left in front by the fall of Finlay's Footsteps. Running here off a 2lb higher mark, he should be thereabouts but punters should be wary of availing of skinny prices in a race of this nature. Kathuna makes little appeal on current form but market moves must be noted coming from the Tony Martin yard. Digital Media has proved a disappointment since graduating from bumpers but in handicap company has to be respected on his second run this season. Road To Rio is another one to note following a respectable run in a better class of race at Leopardstown last time. An open contest where the vote is given to Make It Blossom to win for the Robbie Burns yard.
Chestnut Man (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, 10th 5 out, 6th and headway 3 out, 4th when mistake and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Hotterthanjuly (11-4) at Downpatrick 2m 6f mdn hdl gf in Nov, 14 ran.
Road To Rio (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Mid-division, 9th approaching 5 out, no impression and kept on same pace from before 2 out, 7th of 23, 9l behind Shazand (11-7) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-116 gd in Dec.
Panthers Run 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, effort 5 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 23l behind Hold The Bid (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Dundock 14-1 (10-10) Chased leader, hit 2nd, ridden 4 out, one pace from next, 5th of 10, 9l behind King Daniel (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Digital Media (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Held up, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 13, 22l behind Inch High (10-10) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Smart Man 10-3fav (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway halfway, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace when left 2nd last, stayed on to lead run-in, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Dec beating Optimum (11-0) by a nk, 14 ran.
Make It Blossom (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, closer in 5th before straight, 3rd approaching 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, mistake last, 4th of 17, 8l behind Bellflower Boy (11-4) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-102 hvy in Dec.
Polly Whitefoot 15-2 (10-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 15, 29l behind Oscar Jo (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Covey (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 7th 4 out, headway on inner after 2 out, 4th before last, kept on, 4th of 21, 8l behind Splurge (10-9) at Punchestown 2m cnd hcp hdl gs in Dec.
Bobbing Cove 33-1 (11-0) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 14, well behind Mensio (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Turtle Bay 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, effort 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 14, 13l behind Blast The Past (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Apr.
Gagarin (FR) 250-1 (10-12) Always behind, 8th of 13, 34l behind Master Builder (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Cashback Rose (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 7, 16l behind Nicozetto (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Rosa Fina 8-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, weakening when unseated rider in race won by Star Beat (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gf in Nov, 9 ran.
Kathuna (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Behind, ridden, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 28l behind Bob's Dream (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
