chased leaders, 6th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division on inner, 11th 3f out, ridden under 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on well without threatening winner final furlong to go 3rd close home
rear of mid-division on outer, 15h 3f out, soon ridden on outer, kept on one paced final furlong
disputed lead early, headed 4f out, regained lead 2f out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed inside final furlong, no extra and dropped to 6th close home
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
disputed lead early, led 4f out, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, no impression final furlong
dwelt and in rear, some progress and ridden 2f out, 14th 1f out, no extra final furlong
dwelt and in rear, short of room and switched right 2f out, pushed along and switched left 1 1/2f out, not hard ridden final furlong
mid-division on outer, 7th 3f out, headway ridden under 2f out, headway into 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, comfortably
chased leaders, 3rd 3f out, ridden in 4th 2f out, 4th 1f out, no extra final furlong
mid-division, ridden in 14th 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division on outer, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened and trailing
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
towards rear, 16th 3f out, soon ridden, 10th 1f out, no extra final furlong
mid-division, 8th 3f out, soon ridden, 6th 1f out, no extra
dwelt and in rear, no impression under hands and heels from 2f out, never a factor
rear of mid-division, pushed along 2f out, went 9th under hands and heels 1f out, some progress until eased inside final furlong
chased leaders on inner, 9th 3f out, soon ridden, weakened from 1 1/2f out
mid-division, 10th 3f out, soon ridden, 7th 1f out, stayed on well without threatening winner final furlong to go 2nd near line
This isn't a good race for favourites though the winner is usually well supported. Jim Bolger has won it three times in recent years so Aerialist is respected despite the fact he's stepping up from the minimum trip. He stayed on strongly over 7f at Gowran last month and his latest form figures should be ignored. Tennessee Wildcat has been in fine form at Dundalk but has never won in a dozen starts on Turf but Hold The Line ran an excellent race when runner-up in the City And Suburban Handicap at Epsom. Colour Blue did it nicely at Tipperary and didn't handle the bends at Chester so she can go well along with the impressive Limerick maiden winner Ripples Effect, who could have got in lightly. The Godolphin colt PORTAGE is another who could be on a lenient mark as he beat a big field here in September on only his second start and he's the one that gets the vote.
Lat Hawill (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Tracking leaders when hampered and clipped heels after 1f, under pressure when weakened over 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 6, well behind Wannabe Yours (8-3) at Doncaster 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) sft in Jun.
Tennessee Wildcat (IRE) 5-2 (10-1) Held up in touch in rear, progress and ridden 2f out, headway to lead over 1f out, joined final furlong, stayed on well to regain lead close home, won at Dundalk 1m hcap pol in Feb beating Bishan Bedi (8-11) by nk, 7 ran.
Vastonea (IRE) 11-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 7th 5f out, niggled along approaching straight, ridden 1f out, no impression, 7th of 9, 7l behind Aussie Valentine (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 1f hcp in Apr.
Colour Blue (IRE) 11-2 (8-7) Held up, pushed along 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never involved, 4th of 8, 5l behind Newstead Abbey (8-11) at Chester 1m hcp 0-105 (2) sft.
Hold The Line (IRE) 50-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Collaboration (8-2) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Canary Row (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Led, pushed along and headed under 2f out, 3rd and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, last of 3, 2 1/2l behind Colour Blue (8-11) at Tipperary 7f stks sft in Apr.
Maggie Dalton (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Held up in touch in rear, ridden entering straight, soon no impression, never a factor, 7th of 8, 9l behind Brooch (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f flls Group 3 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Texas Rock (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, in rear, progress on inner 3f out, pushed along 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not get to 1st 2, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Bold Thady Quill (10-0) at Naas 1m hcp 60-100 in Apr.
Hasanour (USA) 14-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden into 6th 2f out, under pressure over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 13th of 23, 18l behind Onenightidreamed (8-10) at Curragh 1m pren hcp hvy in Mar.
I'll Be Your Clown (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Led early, prominent, ridden along 2 1/2f out, challenged 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Bold Thady Quill (10-0) at Naas 1m hcp 60-100 in Apr.
Maskoon 7-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, soon 7th, pushed along over 3f out, 6th into straight, 4th 1f out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ballybacka Queen (8-13) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp hvy.
Aerialist (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Towards rear, 13th halfway, driven under 2f out, never a factor, 14th of 15, 8l behind Joe Eile (8-10) at Navan 5f hcp gd.
Mandamus (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 13l behind Tombelaine (9-3) at Curragh 7f 3yo lst stk (1) hvy.
Princess Aloof (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Mid-division, 6th over 7f out, progress to 5th 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 15, 5l behind Curvy (8-8) at Navan 1m 2f fll hcp gd.
Ripples Effect 9-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress to lead 2f out, ridden 1f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Limerick 1m mdn stks gd in Apr beating Tetraites (9-7) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Shalamzar (FR) 7-1 (9-1) Raced 6th, progress to 4th on inner approaching straight, soon pushed along, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 6l behind Aussie Valentine (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 1f hcp in Apr.
Portage (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Soon prominent, 5th over 3f out and pushed along, 4th 2f out, 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well,, won at Curragh 7f 2yo mdn gf in Sep beating Sacrificial (9-5) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
Salariaq (USA) 2-1fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 1f out, led between horses over 100 yards out, kept on well under pressure, won at Limerick 1m hcp gd in Apr beating Toccata Blue (9-9) by nk, 9 ran.
Beau Satchel 10-3fav (9-5) Held up in rear, headway on outer 2f out, challenged from 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Lean And Keen (10-0) at Leopardstown 7f hcp hvy.
Indian Tomahawk 7-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no impression over 1f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Dundalk 1m auc stks pol in Mar beating Maira (8-9) by nk, 9 ran.
