soon raced in 3rd, closed up travelling well approaching straight, soon led, pressed from over 2f out, joined 1 1/2f out, headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong
attempted to make all, ridden approaching straight, soon headed and dropped to 3rd, no impression from over 2f out and dropped to moderate 4th closing stages
waited with 4th of the 5, niggled along over 4f out, no impression from over 2f out, kept on same pace into moderate 3rd closing stages
waited with last of the 5, closed up travelling well to track leaders approaching straight, soon challenged in 2nd, on terms 1 1/2f out, edged ahead and stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong
tracked leader, lost place approaching straight, soon in rear and no extra
Just five runners here and all can be given a chance including Eternal Bounty, who wasn't far behind Aklan over 1m4f in a Listed event at Roscommon in July. The latter went on to finish runner-up behind Galileo's Choice over this trip at Leopardstown but his trainer looks to have a better chance with HARTANI. He was the impressive winner of a Group 3 over the C&D at the beginning of last month and is still in the classics here and at Doncaster. David Livingston, a Group 2 winning juvenile, was a disappointing favourite in his opening runs this spring but his trainer had plenty of options at the five-day stage so a better run must be expected. Ursa Major has won two handicaps over 1m4f on soft ground here and there's enough stamina in her pedigree to suggest this step-up in trip won't be a problem.
Hartani (IRE) 5-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, improved to be on terms into straight, ridden to lead 2f out, stayed on strongly to go clear inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Jul beating Midnight Soprano (9-8) by 6l, 7 ran.
Aklan (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Led and soon 6 lengths clear, reduced advantage before halfway, ridden and tried to assert approaching straight, strongly pressed and headed 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Galileo's Choice (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 6f Listed stks (1) sft in Jul.
David Livingston (IRE) 6-4fav (9-2) Led, ridden and joined 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 6l behind Mickdaam (8-12) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft in May.
Ursa Major (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Mid-division, headway in 7th 3f out, ridden into 3rd 2f out, challenged 1 1/2f out, soon led, kept on well final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 4f hcp sft in Jun beating Buy Back Bob (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Eternal Bounty (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Soon tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before straight, soon no impression in 4th, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Sapphire (9-12) at Cork 1m 4f flls Group 3 stks (1).
