led, pushed along 4f out, headed over 3f out, no extra and weakened
held up, 9th halfway, headway into 5th 3f out, improved to 2nd 2f out, ridded and no extra over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 2f out, no impression entering straight, kept on to 3rd inside final furlong, no impression leaders
chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden 6f out, soon no extra and weakened, completely tailed off
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway into 2nd 3f out, led 2f out, ridden 1f out, kept on final furlong, headed close home
chased leader, 2nd halfway, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon no extra
mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra over 3f out, weakened and completely tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden in moderate 7th and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, headway in 6th 3f out, 5th 2f out, ridden into 3rd entering straight, ran on well final furlong to lead close home
This is invariably won by a useful performer but surprisingly not by one of Willie Mullins in its 13-year history and only once by Dermot Weld. The fixture's leading trainers are represented by Elegant Concorde and TASITIOCHT and it's the latter who gets the vote. She's absolutely sluiced home in her two latest starts and has a fitness edge of Dermot Weld's charge, who hasn't been seen since the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2010 where he had anything but a clear run. He'd looked useful at Leopardstown previously and will have been prepared for this though it's by no means a two-horse race. Keith Goldsworthy sends Sir Benfro over from Wales and the six-year-old could hardly have been more impressive at Worcester when completing a double. Celtic Abbey also won very easily on heavy ground at Ballinrobe and if the going comes up testing he won't be far away.
Sir Benfro 3-1 (11-8) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, won at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jul beating Mumbles Bay (11-1) by 9l, 8 ran.
Celtic Abbey 9-4 (11-7) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway in 4th 3f out, improved to lead over 2f out, soon clear, ridden and wide entering straight, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Ballinrobe 2m N H flat hvy in Jul beating Cloch Anna (11-0) by 8l, 8 ran.
Elegant Concorde (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, under pressure when hampered bend over 2f out, never on terms, 12th of 24, 22l behind Cue Card (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gd in Mar '10.
Glen Gyle (IRE) 4-5fav (11-8) Tracked leader, ridden over 4f out, quickly weakened, 6th of 8, well behind Sir Benfro (11-8) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) sft in Jul.
Tasitiocht (IRE) 1-7fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, mostly in 3rd, 2nd early straight, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, drew clear, not extended, won at Cork 2m 3f N H flat in Jul beating Deep Trouble (11-2) by 6l, 10 ran.
Behrama (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Always prominent, 2nd and ridden under 4f out, no impression and kept on same pace from 3f out, 4th of 16, 5l behind Crystal Earth (10-13) at Wexford 2m mrs N H flat gf in Jul.
Long Sentence (IRE) Ad Valorem gelding out of Alkifaf.
Summers King (IRE) 80-1 (10-10) Fell 2nd, in a race won by Train Of Thought (11-0) at Galway 2m 4yo nov hdl gd in Jul, 8 ran.
Another Charm (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 7th halfway, mistake 7th, no extra from 3 out, 9th of 13, 37l behind Red Calima (11-4) at Wexford 2m 4f mdn hdl gd in Jun.
