Country Code was always to the fore on his debut in a race where the field remained very tightly grouped throughout much of the race. That put the emphasis on speed inside the final half-mile, with a number of horses holding claims at the penultimate fence. The Workforce gelding showed a great attitude to inch his way to the front at the penultimate fence, from where he had a protracted battle with the eventual winner. It was only in the closing strides that the winner, a €42,000 store sale purchase, began to get the upperhand, whilst the two horses that finished immediately behind him were purchased at the store sales for €52,000 and €70,000 to show the calibre of horses that he was up against.