tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no impression
held up in last, headway on outer 3 out to lead before next, ridden and strongly pressed before last, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
led and jumped slightly left early, ridden 3 out, headed before next, no impression in 4th from 2 out
tracked leaders, 5th 4 out, checked on inner on bend before next, ridden and went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd from last
held up towards rear, slight mistake 5th, good headway into 5th on outer 2 out, ridden in 2nd at last, led inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from before 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 2nd briefly when mistake next, soon no impression
Primroseandblue scored over this trip on fast ground at Limerick then didn't appear to relish softer going over a longer trip at Downpatrick. He's joined by his stablemate Wood Breizh, who has been running reasonably well on the Flat but needs to improve on what he's shown over hurdles. Theatre Mill made a winning debut over fences in April then ran a shocker when fancied at Roscommon while Back To Balloo also has a chase victory to his credit this year. He's Our Man is inconsistent and a rare winner so this can go to PIRES, who is one of the most versatile horses in training and arrives in good form having been narrowly beaten by subsequent winner Fosters Cross in a handicap over fences at Galway. Course and distance winner Sir Ector has been running in tough contests on the Flat and should have more to offer over hurdles.
Primroseandblue (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to dispute lead before 2 out, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no impression on winner, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Star Of Aragon (10-9) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl sft.
Theatre Mill (IRE) 2-1 (11-3) Led, joined 4th, dropped to last after 5th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Usa (10-13) at Roscommon 2m chs gd in Jun, 4 ran.
Back To Balloo (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Bumped at start, chased clear leaders in rear, closer 8th, left 5th 3 out and soon no extra, weakened, 5th of 6, well behind Alelchi Inois (11-9) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs gd in Jul.
He's Our Man (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Soon raced in moderate 5th, closer order from before 6 out, 6th before straight, soon no impression, one pace, 7th of 9, 25l behind Wisty (9-3) at Cork 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23 gd.
Pires 8-1 (11-1) Held up, slightly impeded 1st, soon mid-division, headway from before 5 out, 5th 2 out, 3rd approaching straight, challenged in 2nd final furlong, kept on without matching winner,, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Fosters Cross (11-6) at Galway 2m 1f hcp chs.
Moss Street 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden in rear and no impression approaching 2 out, kept on one pace to go 4th run-in, 4th of 6, 9l behind Meldrum Lad (11-7) at Tramore 2m nh nov hdl gd.
Wood Breizh (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Disputed lead, headed 3rd, disputed lead again 4 out, headed and ridden next, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 9, 16l behind Shield (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f nh nov hdl gd in Jul.
Howwoulduno (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Edged left at start, chased clear leaders, closer 8th, 3rd 2 out and went 2nd early run-in, no impression on winner over 1f out, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Alelchi Inois (11-9) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs gd in Jul.
Sir Ector (USA) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 20l behind Glen Beg (10-4) at Navan 2m hcp hdl sft in Mar.
