led, headed halfway, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
chased leaders, 5th halfway, travelled well into 3rd 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, soon headed, no extra and kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, 7th halfway, pushed along in 6th 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, soon led, kept on strongly final furlong
prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, soon no extra
mid-division early, towards rear halfway, no impression from 2f out
towards rear, headway into 8th 2f out, soon ridden and no extra
chased leaders early, mid-division halfway, ridden in 9th over 1f out, kept on well final furlong
prominent, led halfway, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra in 5th over 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden in 9th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 7th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on final furlong
towards rear, some headway on outer into 11th 2f out, ridden into 6th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway into 10th 2f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
towards rear early, mid-division and ridden halfway, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden halfway, soon no extra
Toufan Express won this in 2009 but was behind Topadee at Laytown a couple of weeks ago and is unlikely to turn the tables. The latter's stable have a better chance with Measured Approval, who defied a 10lb rise to complete a double at Roscommon but has a similar impost for this, which may prove too much. An Saighdiur ran a cracking race in last week's Silver Cup at Ayr and must be a threat despite a big weight while Battleoftheboyne can reverse earlier C&D running with Stone's Peak on better terms and should go well. Joe Eile returned to winning ways over the C&D a month ago though an 8lb rise looks excessive so it's FIRST IN COMMAND who gets the vote. Pat Smullen was on board when his mount was caught close home by Cape Of Approval over 5f here a fortnight ago. He sent him on inside the final furlong that day and is likely to hold on to him a little longer this time. The three-year-old Possible is another with a chance in a very open handicap.
Battleroftheboyne (IRE) 11-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden in 4th over 1f out, 3rd and no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Cape Of Approval (9-5) at Curragh 5f hcp.
Joe Eile (IRE) 4-1fav (9-6) Soon led, clear halfway, travelling best over 2f out, reduced lead close home but always in control, won at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Aug beating Kateeva (8-5) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Bubbly Bellini (IRE) 16-1 (8-9) Mid-division, went 7th inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 7th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Lily's Angel (9-4) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gd.
Invincible Ridge (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 9th halfway, no threat from well over 1f out, last of 13, 14l behind Cape Of Approval (9-5) at Curragh 5f hcp.
Core Element (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Always prominent, disputed lead entering straight, ridden to lead 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Gowran Park 7f app hcp 50-75 gd beating Ocean Drift (9-6) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
First In Command (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, 7th halfway, good headway between horses to go 2nd early final furlong, kept on under pressure, not quite match winner, 2nd of 13, nk behind Cape Of Approval (9-5) at Curragh 5f hcp.
Possible 7-2 (9-1) Dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden into 4th 1f out, no impression final furlong and kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 7l behind An Saighdiur (9-2) at Tipperary 5f hcp 60-100 hvy in Aug.
Stones Peak (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Prominent, moderate 5th under 2f out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 5th of 11, 8l behind Joe Eile (9-6) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Aug.
Allegra Tak (ITY) 16-1 (9-5) Led on rail, ridden and challenged 1 1/2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 8th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Bubbly Bellini (9-4) at Curragh 5f hcp sft in Jul.
Arbitrageur (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders in 5th, progress into 3rd 2f out, one pace under pressure straight, 5th of 10, 6l behind Consonance (9-1) at Galway 7f 3yo hcp hvy.
Measured Approval (IRE) 5-2fav (9-4) Waited with in rear of mid-division, headway to challenge 2f out, in front 1f out, stayed on well, won at Roscommon 7f hcp beating Lily's Star (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Nini Ok (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Slowly away and in rear, 10th and switched right 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 3/4l behind Cape Of Approval (9-5) at Curragh 5f hcp.
Topadee (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway to lead 2f out and asserted 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Laytown 6f hcp 50-70 beating Toufan Express (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Hi Emperor (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Waited with, 10th before halfway, switched to outer from 2f out, 8th over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Winning Impact (9-12) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-85 sft in Jul.
Tornadodancer (IRE) 18-1 (9-6) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 8th of 11, 5l behind Farmleigh House (9-8) at Dundalk 6f hcap pol in Jan.
Toufan Express 10-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden into 6th 1 1/2f out, no extra 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 8th of 14, 4l behind Heavy Weight (9-6) at Dundalk 1m hcp 50-75 pol.
An Saighdiur (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Raced stand side, chased leaders, led stand side group over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed by stand side group last 50 yards, no extra, 3rd of 23, 1 1/2l behind Mass Rally (9-9) at Ayr 6f hcp (3) hvy.
