This is a charity event with varying degrees of expertise in the saddle but THE VERY MAN, runner-up in the Galway Hurdle before landing a Shergar Cup handicap, should prove in a different class to these rivals. Stable companion Jungle Cove was in brilliant form a year ago, landing lucrative handicaps at Leopardstown and Ascot, but he's been disappointing this campaign. Watch The Weather and Bukhill have been in winning form over timber and the latter's stablemate Sign From Above could snatch a place if getting a run.
The Very Man (IRE) 9-4fav (9-6) Slowly into stride and went left start, held up well off the pace in rear, headway out wide 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear, won at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Aug beating Berkshire Rocco (9-9) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Watch The Weather 20-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, 5th 2 out, pushed along and 4th approaching last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 16, 8 1/4l behind Ambitious Fellow (11-1) at Galway 2m 6f hcp lst (1) sft in Aug.
Amir Kabir 40-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along in 7th after 2 out, soon ridden and kept on one pace , no extra from last, 9th of 19, 10 3/4l behind Zarak The Brave (11-5) at Galway 2m hcp (1) Good - Yielding in Aug.
Jungle Cove (IRE) 40-1 (9-8) Dwelt and slightly slow into stride, mid-division and 10th halfway, pushed along from 2f out and soon ridden, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 11th of 14, 11 1/2l behind Longbourn (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Aug.
Gotthenod (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Led and disputed, definite advantage after 2nd, mistake 3rd, pushed along and headed entering straight, 3rd on inner when slight mistake 3 out, no impression when mistake next, soon ridden and no extra, 9th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Hand Over Fist (11-7) at Roscommon 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Bukhill (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Held up, slight mistake 1st, towards rear halfway, slight mistake 3 out, ridden in 11th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 19, 19 3/4l behind Neveradullmoment (11-12) at Galway 2m 1f hcp sft in Jul.
Fireworks (FR) 25-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, slightly hampered 1st, 4th halfway, pushed along after 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 16, 23 1/4l behind Jinxs Link (11-10) at Kilbeggan 2m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul.
Halcyon Spirit 18-1 (9-11) Chased leader, 4th halfway, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden and no extra from over 2f out, 10th of 12, 13l behind Texas Sun (9-11) at Sligo 1m 2f gd in Aug.
In From The Cold (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, ridden when slight mistake 5th, moderate 7th after 2 out, no impression, 6th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Influential Lady (10-2) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
The Virginian (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Towards rear, pushed along in 13th after 3 out, moderate late headway from 2 out, 9th of 16, 20 1/2l behind Jinxs Link (11-10) at Kilbeggan 2m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul.
Adhuil (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders early, mid-division halfway, pushed along and lost place early straight, no extra under 2f out, 13th of 18, 27 1/4l behind Brave Troop (9-8) at Navan 1m 2f hcp hvy in Mar.
Cometh The Man (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out, 9th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Storm Eric (10-1) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Apr.
Tall Story (IRE) 25-1 (9-6) Dwelt slightly, towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, 8th of 10, 19 1/4l behind Magnetic North (10-2) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f Yielding in Jul.
Sign From Above (IRE) 9-4fav (9-9) Mid-division on outer, briefly short of room 2f out, pushed along on inner entering straight, ridden and went 5th 1f out, improved into 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Galway 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Aug beating Longclaw (10-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Laishann (FR) 40-1 (11-11) Rear, niggled along before 4 out, weakened and detached 3 out, never a factor, pulled up after 3 out, at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Abu Hazem 150-1 (11-5) Rear, jumped left at 4th, slightly detached in 7th at 6th, detached before 4 out, never a factor, pulled up before 3 out, at Tramore 1m 7f gd in Aug.
