tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression in 3rd entering straight, left moderate 2nd last where mistake, no extra
tracked leader, ran freely, blundered 2nd, 2nd halfway, dropped to 4th 3 out and soon pushed along, no extra in rear after 2 out, eased, completely tailed off
led, travelled well and asserted approaching straight, pushed along and 2 lengths advantage when fell last
ran 4th, pushed along after 3 out and no extra approaching straight, left moderate 3rd last, kept on one pace
in rear, progress into 3rd 3 out, ridden to go 2nd entering straight, 2 lengths down and left clear last, kept on well run-in
Gordon Elliott's yard has to start emerging from the wilderness soon and Skilled has to be a major player after completing a double in the spring though, like most of his stablemates, he ran poorly at Galway. Among those stablemates are The Scourge, who had looked promising over hurdles at Kilbeggan, and From Frost, who found two miles much too short after scoring over a mile further at Gowran. But The Scourge finished seven lengths behind PUNCH BAG at Tramore in April and Brendan Duke's charge has since completed a Limerick double so he'll take some beating here. Jesmond Lodge was a long way behind in that Tramore event and carries a penalty after gaining her first victory on very heavy ground at Sligo on Thursday.
Punch Bag (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, 2nd from before 3rd, improved to challenge entering straight, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m gd in Jul beating Storm Away (11-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Skilled 5-1 (11-11) Prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along over 3f out, no impression 2f out, soon no extra, 10th of 18, 28 3/4l behind Time To Inspire (11-0) at Galway 1m 4f mdn Yielding in Jul.
Jesmond Lodge (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Towards rear, 7th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, no impression next where slight mistake, moderate 5th 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Jul.
The Scourge (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Towards rear, mistake 6th, some progress from next, no impression 2 out, soon no extra, 12th of 20, dist behind Beckwith Star (11-12) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Jul.
Black Label 14-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, 7th early, slight mistake 1st, not fluent 6th and pushed along, not much room after 3 out, no impression from next, no extra from before last, 10th of 15, 20 1/2l behind Dollar And A Dream (10-9) at Galway 2m hcp sft in Aug.
From Frost 33-1 (11-5) Soon raced in 10th, no impression over 2f out, soon no extra, 16th of 19, 31 1/2l behind Modem (11-0) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Jul.
