in rear, slight mistake 8th, pushed along to close 4 out, pushed along again after next, edged right straight, challenged from after 2 out, on terms from before last where slight mistake, soon no impression and one pace
led and clear, reduced lead before 6th, slight mistake 4 out, joined from before 3 out, under pressure approaching straight, led again after 2 out, joined from before last, stayed on best to assert run-in
raced in 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, still travelling smoothly into straight, soon 4th, went 3rd again on inner from last, kept on same pace under pressure
raced in 2nd, on terms from before 3 out, ridden straight, headed after 2 out, one pace, dropped to 4th and no extra from last
raced in 4th, pushed along approaching 3 out, no impression in last into straight, no extra and not fluent 2 out, soon eased
After landing a Gowran maiden in June, SOLATENTIF has come up against Long Dog in his two subsequent races and not surprisingly hasn't been able to cope though he did run well at Limerick last time. He won't meet anything of that calibre here and can resume winning ways. Grecian Tiger has been disappointing and looked one-paced behind lucky winner Baily Cloud at Galway though he did have Prickly a couple of lengths behind and should confirm the form. Akito has shown his best form over this trip as he did when a close third in a Punchestown handicap last time while The Gatechecker was on the upgrade when last seen in early summer.
Akito (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in rear, improved to dispute 5th before straight, soon under pressure and not much room, chased leaders in 3rd at last, kept on well run-in without quite matching winner, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Jarob (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Grecian Tiger (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, closer in 5th approaching next, no impression and left 4th last, went 3rd under pressure over 100 yards out, no impression close home, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Baily Cloud (11-5) at Galway 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Prickly (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression in 4th after next, left 3rd last, no extra run-in, 4th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Baily Cloud (11-5) at Galway 2m 4f Yielding in Oct.
Solatentif (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Raced in 2nd, a little keen, pushed along into straight, no impression and kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Long Dog (11-8) at Limerick 2m 5f (1) Yielding in Oct.
The Gatechecker (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, disputed 4 out and led briefly straight, headed 2 out, soon ridden and challenged last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Ibsen (11-10) at Limerick 2m 5f gd in Jun.
