This is a charity race with varying degrees of competence from the saddle. Neverushacon really needs further and a long absence could hand the initiative to others including Flat To The Max, a good fourth behind Royal Illusion at Bellewestown. Centaur has been running quite well in bumpers while Edification has been in good form over shorter and should have no problems with the extra. AUSSIE VALENTINE is much better than most of these and though he's another better over shorter the nature of the race may play into his hands and he's handed the vote.
Aussie Valentine (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) A little keen, prominent, led halfway, pushed along before straight, joined from 2f out, headed from 1 1/2f out, one pace after, 6th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Magnetic North (8-8) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Neverushacon (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to lead 5f out, ridden and disputed 2 1/2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, rallied to dispute again 1f out, narrow lead final 100 yards, kept on, won at Gowran Park 1m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Causey Arch (9-6) by nk, 18 ran.
Edification 7-2 (9-10) Slowly into stride, towards rear, closed travelling smoothly and switched right over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out and effort, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Claim The Lady (9-0) at Naas 1m 2f hcp gd in Jul.
Flat To The Max (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along and led briefly over 2f out, soon ridden and dropped to 4th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4l behind Royal Illusion (11-0) at Bellewstown 1m 4f gd in Jul.
Centaur (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, moderate 2nd 4f out, soon ridden, dropped to moderate 3rd over 2f out, soon no impression, 5th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Bentham (11-7) at Bellewstown 2m 1f gd in Jul.
Skeaping 5-1 (11-10) Led and slight mistake 1st, headed before 4th, 2nd halfway, 3rd before 2 out, pushed along in close 2nd entering straight, no impression approaching last and no extra run-in, 4th of 7, 9 1/4l behind Trendsetter (9-11) at Sligo 2m 4f hcp gf in Jul.
Heir of Excitement (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 3 out, no impression, 8th of 16, dist behind Room To Roam (11-12) at Bellewstown 2m 1f mdn gd in Jul.
Ilikehim (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Chased leaders and 4th from halfway, lost place from 3f out and weakened from 2f out, no extra and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 11th of 13, 12 1/2l behind Glenbank King (9-10) at Sligo 1m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Jazz Ranger (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden in 12th before 3 out, soon no impression, 12th of 20, dist behind Party Playboy (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Jun.
Mine Now (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Waited with, some headway but no impression into straight, mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Huckleberry Hill (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Alw twrds rr, 9th aftr a mile, mstk 7th, fair 9th aftr 5out, wknd 4out, pu bef 3out, at Kinsale 3m gs in Jun.
Midnitemudcrabs (IRE) 3-1 (9-12) Tracked leader going well, led over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Donnelly's Rainbow (9-9) at Ayr 7f hcp (6) gd in Jul.
Pearl Warrior 7-2cfav (9-3) Prominent early on outer, soon settled in mid-division, some headway 3f out and pushed along in 5th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Dinard Rose (8-7) at Bellewstown 1m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Love The Well (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake at 1st, improved into 2nd at 7th, disputed lead next, ridden and headed entering straight, weakened, 8th of 14, 23 3/4l behind Perfect Leader (11-3) at Wexford 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Extrasensory (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders on outer, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra under 2f out, eased final furlong, last of 13, 16 1/4l behind Percy B Shelley (8-6) at Gowran Park 1m 1f gf in May.
Beat Of The Sea (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 7th halfway, 6th 2 out, went 4th and slight mistake last, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Belle West (10-0) at Sligo 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Palabres (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Broke well to lead early, headed after 1f, led after 2f, headed entering straight, dropped to 3rd and ridden under 2f out, no extra final furlong, weakened in 5th final 100 yards, 7th of 18, 7 1/4l behind The Names Jock (9-4) at Cork 1m hcp gd in Apr.
