chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no extra 3f out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway to narrow lead 3f out, ridden over 2f out, challenged 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th 3f out, 8th 2f out, stayed on to 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace
rear of mid-division, ridden and no extra 4f out, weakened
mid-division, ridden into 5th 2f out, no extra in 6th 1 1/2f out, soon weakened
led, narrowly headed 3f out, ridden and challenged again 2f out, no extra in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden in 11th 2f out, kept on in 6th 1f out, ran on final furlong to 2nd close home
mid-division, ridden into 6th 2f out, 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out
chased leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along in 4th 3f out, ridden in 7th 2f out, no extra and kept on one pace
towards rear, headway into 11th 4f out, ridden on outer 3f out, soon no extra and weakened
chased leaders, 6th halfway, dropped to 9th 4f out, ridden 3f out, no impression in 10th 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden and no extra 3f out, weakened
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 3f out, ridden and close up 2f out, 4th 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out
mid-division, headway into 5th 3f out, ridden into close 4th 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, kept on well final furlong
soon towards rear, ridden and no impression 4f out, kept on one pace from 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway into 9th 2f out, no impression and kept on one pace
Most of these would be happier facing a set of hurdles including the very well handicapped Blue Cannon, though he's been absent since April. Neighbourly has improved markedly over timber recently and is another looking well in while Rawnaq is another going well over hurdles and he didn't appreciate the Polytrack at Dundalk last time. Bahrain Storm is better known as a chaser these days but showed that he's still useful on the level with a very good run behind Seventh Son at Killarney. FORCE OF HABIT had been running moderately over jumps before reverting to the Flat with an eye-catching run at Dundalk where he stayed on very strongly over that 2m trip. With another two furlongs to go here he's handed the vote though Deutschland, who scored on fast ground at Wexford in July, looks a big threat for Willie Mullins.
Bahrain Storm (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd from 3f out, not get to winner from 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Seventh Sign (9-3) at Killarney 1m 6f hcp sft.
Giant's Quest (AUS) 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and no impression in 5th 2f out, soon no extra, 9th of 13, 10l behind Midnight Soprano (9-7) at Curragh 1m 4f Handicap (50-85) (4yo+) in Apr.
Deutschland (USA) 7-4fav (9-10) Raced close 2nd, ridden to dispute lead briefly entering straight, headed under 2f out, rallied well to lead inside final furlong, stayed on gamely close home, won at Wexford 2m stks gd in Jul beating Cloudgazer (9-6) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Force Of Habit 10-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, ridden into 8th 2f out, no impression and kept on one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Regal Tramp (9-8) at Dundalk 2m hcp 50-75 pol.
Hunting Tower 11-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened 3f out, soon eased, last of 4, 41l behind River Dragon (9-2) at Ayr 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy in Oct.
Rawnaq (IRE) 4-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, soon no extra in 3rd and kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Regal Tramp (9-8) at Dundalk 2m hcp 50-75 pol.
Action Master 3-1fav (9-5) Mid-division early, 6th halfway, headway into 4th 4f out, ridden in 6th 3f out, no impression in 4th 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 11l behind Golan Guy (8-12) at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp 50-80 gd in Sep '11.
Keelaghan (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace, 14th of 23, 20l behind Salam Alaykum (9-11) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp 50-75 gs in Jul.
Face Value 5-2 (8-3) Tracked leaders, ridden in moderate 4th 3f out, no impression, 5th of 7, 18l behind Solo Performer (10-0) at Bellewstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Aug.
Whisky Galore 9-1 (9-10) Led and disputed, ridden and headed 4f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 43l behind Golden Nugget (9-5) at Sligo 1m 2f 3yo & 4yo mdn gf in Jun '10.
Narima (GER) 16-1 (10-2) Prominent, 3rd over 2f out, no extra and kept on same pace straight, 7th of 18, 14l behind Pond Cottage (10-7) at Galway 1m 6f am stks (4yo+) hvy in Oct.
Silas Mariner (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, moderate 12th over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 9th of 16, 4l behind Hazariban (8-9) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp 47-65 gs.
Aegean Sky (IRE) 11-2 (8-8) Settled mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, no impression in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Cheval Rouge (9-4) at Roscommon 1m 2f fll hcp sft in Aug.
Blue Cannon (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, 6th on outer halfway, moderate 3rd entering straight, soon no extra, 6th of 10, 14l behind Formal Bid (8-13) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 50-70 pol in Jul '11.
Neighbourly (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, never a factor, 12th of 14, 12l behind Hawkswood (9-1) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol in Apr.
Slew Charm (FR) 12-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, led 5f out, headed 3f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 13th of 16, 8l behind Hazariban (8-9) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp 47-65 gs.
Grand Opera (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden approaching straight, soon no impression, 12th of 13, 19l behind Bobskier (9-7) at Clonmel 1m 2f clm stks gd.
Diamondgeezer Luke (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Mid-division, 10th halfway, ridden 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 15, 8l behind Sheilas Wish (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp 47-65 gs.
