mid-division, 5th halfway, weakened over 3f out
made all, ridden clear 2f out, kept on strongly, easily
mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and dropped to rear 6f out, soon weakened and tailed off
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 5th 3f out, no extra entering straight
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3f out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
held up towards tear, progress 4f out, 3rd over 3f out, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 3f out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, lost 2nd inside final furlong
held up towards rear, progress into 6th 5f out, ridden and no impression 3f out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, ridden in 8th 4f out, no impression in moderate 7th entering straight, kept on one pace
ALAMEIN was well supported on his debut at Punchestown in April but had the misfortune to come up against subsequent Ascot Group 2 winner Forgotten Rules. He did well to finish runner-up in a race where several winners were on show and his reappearance at Leopardstown in December is best ignored as he was beaten too far for it to have been his form. Gala Ball was beaten a long way at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day and Ballybryan even further at Gowran, a race in which winning point-to-pointer Three Oscars finished a long way last. Henry De Bromhead's Loughmore Lord has a smart pedigree with two winning bumpers amongst his relatives so he could provide the main threat to the selection.
Byerley Beag (IRE) Definite Article gelding out of Queen Astrid.
Laid Back Luke (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Ur at start, in a race won by The Bishop (12-2) at Tinahely 3m ire ptp in Jan, 16 ran.
Mount Heron (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) In rear on outer, under pressure from early straight, soon no extra, tailed off,, last of 8, well behind Illuminati (11-7) at Navan 2m NH flat sft in Jan.
Vermout Fougeray (FR) 10-1 (11-5) 10th of 11, well behind Maigh Dara (11-3) at Downpatrick 2m 2f NH flat gd in Sep '13.
Alamein (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Soon disputed lead, headed approaching straight, soon weakened and behind, 5th of 9, well behind Space Cadet (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo NH flat sft in Dec.
Ballybryan (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led and pressed, disputed before halfway, ridden and headed 4f out, under pressure in 3rd entering straight, soon no extra, 4th of 5, 27l behind Stone Hard (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m NH flat in Jan.
Gala Ball (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden in 2nd entering straight, weakened from 2f out, 5th of 9, 25l behind Jetstream Jack (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m NH flat sft in Jan.
Loughmore Lord (IRE) Rudimentary gelding out of Another Vodka.
Three Oscars (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up, mainly 4th, ridden in rear 4f out, soon no impression and weakened, last of 5, 50l behind Stone Hard (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m NH flat in Jan.
