held up in touch and keen, led 3rd, switched left before 2 out, headed last, one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, switched right before next, led last, kept on strongly
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
behind and keen, effort before 3 out, never dangerous
led to 3rd, tracked leader until 2 out, weakened last
in rear, outpaced 4 out, headway before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in, no impression
held up mid-division and keen, headway after 4 out, weakening when fell 2 out
held up mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, soon lost place
held up towards rear, headway on inner 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders in 3rd, jumped slow 4th, soon pushed along and lost place
The Donald McCain bandwagon continues to maintain momentum most impressively and it will be a surprise if ABSINTHE doesn't notch another success for the yard and preserve his unbeaten record. He scored with real authority on his Bangor hurdling debut and this useful Flat performer should be too speedy for his rivals around this sharp venue on good ground. Ingleby Spirit should make a race of it though and looks the only conceivable danger bar the hurdles. He's improved for each run over timber and put the race to bed effectively last time when outpointing Bowdler's Magic very comfortably over C&D. Maybe I Wont and Raajih look next best but it's hard to see them troubling the assured market leaders.
Absinthe (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, headway on inside when hampered 4 out, went 2nd before next, led before 2 out, drew clear approaching last, ran on, eased towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Crescent Beach (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ingleby Spirit 15-8 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, ran on strongly from last, won at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec beating Bowdler's Magic (11-0) by 6l, 14 ran.
Aye Well 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not much room and lost place 10f out, behind 7f out, tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Fourth Estate (11-9) at Ayr 2m NH flat (4) gd in Apr.
Great Wisdom (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, some headway after 2 out, never dangerous, 8th of 11, well behind Into Wain (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
L'eminence Grise (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Chasing leaders when stumbled and unseated rider approaching 2nd, in a race won by Into Wain (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Maybe I Wont 25-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, badly hampered 1st, effort 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 16, 19l behind Countess Comet (10-12) at Catterick 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Santiago Boy 100-1 (10-7) Always towards rear, 11th of 12, well behind Malt Master (11-0) at Newcastle 2m NH Maiden Hurdle (4-6yo) (5) gs in Nov.
Skirlaw (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 30l behind Swinging Sultan (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Snooker (GER) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along in 3rd before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 11, 48l behind Kealigolane (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Dec.
Raajih 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division best, 6th approaching straight, soon no impression, 6th of 9, 38l behind Simenon (11-12) at Cork 2m mdn hdl hvy.
