led, ridden and headed early straight, soon no extra
held up in rear, progress entering straight, led over 1f out, kept on under pressure, headed close home
tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 3f out, weakened early straight, eased final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd travelling well 3f out, ridden to lead early straight, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up, 5th halfway, 4th and effort early straight, 2nd 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders in 4th, dropped to rear entering straight, swithced to outer travelling best 1 1/2f out, ridden to challenge under 1f out, ran on strongly to lead close home
9.25 - John Oxx has a 30% record this year here and Vitruvian Man has claims but there is more to like about Raffaello Santi who looks highly progressive. He has improved with each run so far and won at Galway over a mile and a half last time. Lastofthemohicans narrowly lost out here last time when second to Whisper Cool and could be capable of a winning effort here if finding the necessary element that was lacking in the closing stages most recently. Elusive Ridge could challenge on the pick of his runs but needs to find more here, whilst Barbadine has been running in some very difficult races of late and has a reasonable chance against this opposition. The vote goes to ENCOMPASSING who has been outclassed in Group 1 races this year, but Aidan O'Brien has found a realistic looking race for this son of Montjeu to get back to winning ways.
Vitruvian Man 8-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden over 3f out, no extra straight, 7th of 10, 20l behind Await The Dawn (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Elusive Ridge (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Led, joined 3f out, ridden to lead entering straight, strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, headed and edged slightly right inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind The Black Abbot (8-12) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp 50-85 gf.
Encompassing (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Settled 2nd, 3rd on inner 2f out, soon ridden, no impression from over 1f out, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Unaccompanied (9-2) at Killarney 1m stks in Aug.
Lastofthemohicans (FR) 10-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, closer in 3rd entering straight, challenged from over 1f out, kept on under pressure, not match winner closing stages, 2nd of 9, nk behind Whisper Cool (7-13) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo hcp pol.
Raffaello Santi (IRE) 9-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 4th 5f out, short of room and slighty hampered when improved to 2nd 3f out, soon drifted left, ridden to challenge entering straight, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, all out, won at Galway 1m 4f 3yo mdn gf in Jul beating Battleoftrafalgar (8-12) by hd, 9 ran.
Barbadine (USA) 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, kept on same pace from under 2f out, 6th of 12, 4l behind Obama Rule (8-12) at Curragh 1m 1f flls Group 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
