chased leaders, soon raced in 4th, pushed along over 5f out, soon under pressure, 8th 3f out, no extra
held up, pushed along under 4f out, soon under pressure, 9th 3f out, no extra
led, headed over 3f out, soon no extra
soon raced in 6th, closed up from 4f out, led over 3f out, soon pushed along to assert, stayed on well, easily
in rear, pushed along under 4f out, improved into 7th 3f out, soon no extra
chased leaders, soon raced in 5th, 6th 3f out and pushed along, went moderate 2nd approaching final furlong and kept on without troubling winner
soon raced in 2nd, pushed along over 3f out where 3rd, soon no extra
held up, pushed along under 4f out, last 3f out, no extra, eased over 1f out, tailed off
held up, improved into 4th 3f out and pushed along, soon chased winner and no impression, one pace final furlong and dropped to 4th near line
soon raced in 3rd, dropped to 5th 3f out and pushed along, soon no impression, kept on same pace without threatneing final furlong into 3rd near line
Wicklow Brave produced one of the shocks of last season when beating ORDER OF ST GEORGE in a four-runner race for this. Willie Mullins' charge has been busy subsequently and landed the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in April but was well behind Aidan O'Brien's top-class stayer in the trial for this here last month after the winner had just been pipped by Big Orange in the Gold Cup. Torcedor beat the selection over the trip at Navan in April though he had a fitness advantage having already beaten Twilight Payment easily at Leopardstown. Dartmouth couldn't quite hold off Montaly in the Lonsdale Cup over 2m at York but his earlier victory over this trip in the Yorkshire Cup puts him in the frame for this.
Benkei (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, 3rd halfway, improved to lead before straight, clear before 2 out, not extended, eased down run-in, won at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp hvy in Sep beating Brave Deed (10-9) by 8l, 12 ran.
Dartmouth 11-4fav (9-6) Mid-division, tracked leaders 3f out, challenged over 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, drifted right under pressure inside final furlong, kept on, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Montaly (9-3) at York 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Lord Yeats 12-1 (9-10) Pressed leader, led narrowly 7f out, driven and headed when hampered over 2f out, soon lost place, no danger after, eased over 1f out, 17th of 19, 35 1/4l behind Nakeeta (9-5) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Order Of St George (IRE) 1-2fav (9-8) Pushed along briefly early and soon tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 3f out, pushed along to challenge and on terms 2f out, soon led, stayed on well to assert from 1f out, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Aug beating Rekindling (9-3) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
The Tartan Spartan (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Close up, ridden over 1f out, staying on final furlong when short of room and hampered inside final furlong, eased and lost 3 places close home, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind My Reward (9-5) at Chester 1m 5f hcp lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Torcedor (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Mid-division, plugged on final 2f, modest 5th over 1f out, 5th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Big Orange (9-2) at Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Twilight Payment (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Prominent in 2nd, on terms after 3f and soon led, pushed along over 3f out, joined 2f out, soon headed, no impression 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Order Of St George (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Aug.
Western Hymn 14-1 (9-2) Held up last, headway towards far side and switched left over 2f out, plugged on into modest 4th final furlong, 4th of 6, 6 1/2l behind Hawkbill (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Wicklow Brave 8-1 (9-8) Raced in 4th, pushed along and effort straight, no impression 1f out, one pace, 4th of 6, 7 3/4l behind Order Of St George (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Aug.
Mount Moriah 10-3 (9-1) Slight stumble start, soon led, pushed along over 2f out, headed 2f out, chased leading pair, ridden and one pace over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Crystal Ocean (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug.
