held up towards rear, not clear run 2f out, ridden and headway 1 1/2f out, 3rd under 1f out, kept on final furlong to press winner close home
held up towards rear, ridden and headway on outer 2f out, 4th under 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden and no impression 2f out
chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out
mid-division, ridden 2f out, switched to inner and headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to challenge 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out
slowly into stride and rear, ridden and no impression 3f out, kept on one pace straight
dwelt, chased leaders early, soon mid-division, ridden into 4th 2f out, soon close up, no extra final furlong
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and lost place over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out
mid-division, pushed along into 3rd 2f out, soon disputed, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no extra
mid-division, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong
Premier handicaps are usually tough and this is no exception. Steps To Freedom last ran here in February when he won easily. He's been running really well over jumps and on the level subsequently and won't go down without a battle. STRONGER THAN ME is one from two on this track and has won over this trip this year at Leopardstown and the Curragh. He couldn't quite get to the progressive Jayed Jidan over a mile last week at the latter track but, back over his best trip, is taken to land the spoils. The three-year-old Saxo Jack cantered in at Leopardstown and starts off in a handicap on what could be a lenient mark while the likes of Kingdom, Salhooda and Majenta have to be respected.
Steps To Freedom (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Held up, 5th halfway, 4th 6f out, pushed along under 3f out, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 4th when hampered 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 8l behind Voleuse De Coeurs (9-0) at Navan 1m 6f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) in May.
Banna Boirche (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division on inner and 10th halfway, 8th 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Royal Blue Star (9-4) at Cork 1m Listed stks (1).
Hujaylea (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, no impression from 3f out, never a factor, 12th of 14, 19l behind Ansgar (9-7) at Curragh 1m hcp gf in Jun.
Parkers Mill (IRE) 13-2 (10-0) Led, challenged 2 1/2f out, ridden and headed 2f out, under pressure in 2nd when slightly hampered over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Maundy Money (9-0) at Galway 1m hcp 60-90 hvy.
Salam Alaykum (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden into 12th 2f out, some headway on inner into 9th entering straight, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 7th of 18, 13l behind Brendan Brackan (9-6) at Galway 1m hcp in Jul.
Kingdom (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Prominent and led after 3f, ridden and headed entering straight, soon checked, no extra in 6th 1f out and eased when beaten final furlong, 8th of 11, 20l behind Curley Bill (9-3) at Galway 1m 4f hcp hvy.
Solo Performer (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden and no impression approaching straight, kept on one pace from over 1f out, never a factor, 7th of 11, 19l behind Curley Bill (9-3) at Galway 1m 4f hcp hvy.
Salhooda (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders on inner in 3rd, pushed along 3f out and no impression in 4th over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong to take 3rd, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Fionnuar (8-2) at Down Royal 1m 2f fll hcp gs in Jun.
Majenta (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Soon raced 6th of the 8, effort under pressure and still 6th 1f out, no impression and kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Bunairgead (8-7) at Roscommon 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf in Jul.
Morning With Ivan (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Held up, 8th halfway, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 11, 8l behind Along Came Casey (9-11) at Gowran Park 1m 1f fll lst stks (1) gd.
Abbey Vale (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Waited with towards rear, improved to track leaders 2f out, switched 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong without getting to winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Belle de Crecy (9-8) at Curragh 1m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Jazz Girl (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Driven along to soon lead, strongly pressed and headed over 1f out, soon dropped to 3rd and kept on one pace under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Majestic Jasmine (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m 1f fll hcp gf.
Stronger Than Me (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Settled in mid-division and 9th halfway, headway between horses 2f out and ridden in 5th 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Jayed Jidan (9-4) at Curragh 1m hcp gd.
Saxo Jack (FR) 5-1 (9-5) Raced close 2nd early, led before halfway, ridden clear entering straight, swished tail under pressure from under 2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f mdn stks gf in Jul beating Al Destoor (9-5) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Tribes And Banner (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride and in rear, always behind, never a factor, 10th of 14, 7l behind Prospectorous (8-6) at Dundalk 1m 3f Handicap (60-90) (4yo+) pol in May.
Long Journey Home (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Led, strongly pressed early straight and headed well over 1f out, weakened, 11th of 16, 14l behind Tandem (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Alghanem (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders and headway on outer into 4th approaching straight, ridden well over 1f out and no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 20, 4l behind At Boolavogue (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 1f stks gf.
