chased leaders in 3rd, 4th 3f out, ridden 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace
held up in rear, 5th 5f out, headway into 3rd 2f out, challenged in 2nd 1 1/2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, kept on well
held up in 5th, last 5f out, ridden and no extra 4f out, kept on one pace from 2f out
chased leaders in 4th, 3rd 3f out, improved to challenge 2f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on final furlong, held
led, disputed 3f out, ridden and challenged 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace
A tricky finale with four of the six entries racing under National Hunt Rules on their latest starts. They include Greenbelt Star, an impressive winner of bumpers at Roscommon and Galway recently, and HAZEYMM, whose two latest runs over hurdles have produced victories at Wexford and Tramore. She just gets the vote here though End Of The Affair has been running well and was only just touched off by Salute Him on her last visit here and Zaralabad has been in good form in tough handicaps on the Flat and easily landed a QR race over the course and distance on heavy ground a year ago. The latter would be the alternative selection if the going eases significantly. Wikaala holds Bremen on a recent run over timber at Tramore though that line of form can be deceptive.
Wikaala (USA) 6-1 (8-1) Prominent, 2nd halfway, 3rd into straight, weakened from over 2f out, last of 11, 11l behind Tovaria (8-9) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcap gf in Jun.
Zaralabad (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Held up in 9th, not clear run straight, moderate 6th 1f out, ran on strongly, nearest at finish, 4th of 14, 2l behind Top Spin (7-11) at Killarney 1m 6f hcap gf.
Bremen 10-1 (9-2) Disputed early, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden over 2f out, no extra in 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 11, 5l behind Pop Rock (9-2) at Galway 1m 6f stks gf in Jul.
Hazeymm (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 3f out, no impression 2f out, weakened, 7th of 9, 31l behind Fingers (11-4) at Killarney 2m 1f am stks (4yo+) sft in Aug '09.
Greenbelt Star 4-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to lead 2f out, went clear entering straight, kept on strongly final furlong, won at Galway 2m N H flat gf beating Benefique (11-6) by 4l, 7 ran.
End Of The Affair (IRE) 15-8 (11-6) Held up early, headway into 3rd before halfway, 2nd from 6f out, ridden to lead under 3f out, headed 2f out, 3rd and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Endless Intrigue (11-11) at Killarney 2m 1f am stks (4yo+) gf.