Saltees Island Nov.H´cap H´dle (Rated 81-109) of €12,500.00 4/6-y-o 2m.

1st - €8,637.50, 2nd - €2,125.00, 3rd - €1,000.00, 4th - €625.00 11 Ran

Continuing a trend of prominent runners to score at this fixture Paul Magnier's Duers came from just off the leaders to take up an irreversible lead at the second last and go on and deny the late resurgent challenge of Swiftmarc (8/1-11/2) by a neck in the hands of Robbie Power.

Duers was running consistently of late and this was a welcome win for connections who were so nearly denied yet again by Swiftmarc who came at the leader again after the last and just failed when all out.

A slight drop in class here saw Swiftmarc run to in or about his level and there may be a nice handicap of similar sort to be won with him in the near future for Mags Mullins while favourite Motaraqeb could have no real excuse and is not the sort of horse who you could be truly relying on as a favourite backer.

Maca Rinca finished well and the tight nature of the track may have acted against this Jarlath Fahy trained mare. The Paul Nolan trained By The Brook couldn't lead them from start to finish and he may need at least two and a half miles in front of him before posing a threat on the judge.

Tommy Tracey rider of Swiftmarc was severely cautioned over his excessive use of the whip in the latter stages of the races.