in touch, 5th halfway, travelled well and closed 3f out, 2nd 2f out, ridden and challenged leader over 1f out, kept on same pace under 1f out, held
rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, not much room over 2f out, progress under 2f out, no impression on leaders in 3rd over 1f out, ridden and weakened 1f out
towards rear, 9th halfway, pushed along over 4f out, progress 2f out, no impression over 1f out, ridden 1f out, kept on without threatening to 4th close home
soon led narrowly, ridden and pressed over 1f out, kept on well final furlong
tracked leader on inner, 4th halfway, lost place over 2f out, weakened quickly 1 1/2f out, eased over 1f out
prominent and ran freely, 2nd halfway, lost place 2 1/2f out, soon weakened quickly
pushed along leaving stalls, soon mid-division, 6th halfway, headway to 3rd over 2f out, lost place and weakened entering straight
chased leader, progress to 3rd halfway, under pressure and lost place 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, eased over 1f out
in rear, 11th halfway, effort 1 1/2f out, ridden entering straight, kept on final furlong, no danger
rear, 12th halfway, headway 1 1/2f out, improved to 3rd final 150 yards, no impression on leaders, ran on, never nearer
rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, hampered over 2f out, effort 1 1/2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace under 1f out
pushed along leaving stalls, soon raced in rear, detached over 7f out, some progress 1 1/2f out, no impression, never a factor
towards rear, 10th halfway, progress on outer 2f out, ridden entering straight, no impression on leaders in 3rd under 1f out, weakened closing stages
National Ballet made a winning start in handicaps at Limerick but has been hit with a 12lb hike in the ratings. Ever A Dream thumped Prince Of Verona, Druk and Bynx at Fairyhouse but he’s gone up 16lb. Port Sunlight appreciated the step up in trip at Ballinrobe and connections will be hoping for a good run from Merroir earlier on the card to boost that form while Citronnade has scope for further improvement having won a fillies’ maiden at Killarney. Declan McDonogh is reunited with POWERFUL KIERAN, whom he rode into second spot at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse last month. If you put a line through the latter’s run at The Curragh, he has decent claims in this.
Port Sunlight (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Held up in touch in 5th, headway into 2nd and pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Merroir (8-11) at Ballinrobe 1m 5f hcp fll gd in Jun.
Catena Zapata (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, led after 1 1/2f, pushed along and joined 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Mazagran (9-8) at Limerick 1m Yielding - Soft in Jul.
National Ballet (JPN) 11-8fav (8-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, reminder 4f out, soon pushed along and closer approaching straight, ridden and led 1 1/2f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Limerick 1m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul beating Right Turn (8-8) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Citronnade 11-4 (9-2) Soon led, made all, asserted and ridden over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Killarney 1m 3f mdn fll Yielding in Jul beating Rosscarbery (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Optimistic Belief (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Made all, pushed along to assert 2f out, ridden and over 2 lengths clear 1f out, reduced margin inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, just held on, won at Killarney 1m 3f mdn gd in Jul beating Lusaka (9-7) by ns, 13 ran.
Prince Of Verona (USA) 3-1jfav (9-13) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and headway on inner in 2nd under 2f out, soon ridden and no impression on winner from over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Ever A Dream (8-10) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Ever A Dream (IRE) 7-2 (8-10) Pushed along early and soon led, 2 lengths lead halfway, pushed along again 2f out and ridden to assert over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, easily, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul beating Prince Of Verona (9-13) by 8l, 7 ran.
Druk (FR) 13-2 (9-11) Ran 5th, pushed along entering straight and soon ridden, headway into 3rd 1 1/2f out, soon no impression, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Ever A Dream (8-10) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Khezaana (IRE) 11-4 (9-6) Tracked winner, ridden and unable to quicken 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 9 1/2l behind Portfolio (9-6) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp fll (4) gf in Jul.
Razdan (IRE) 10-3 (9-10) Slowly away and trailing in rear early, good headway on inner under 3f out, 5th and switched to outer under 2f out, ridden in close 5th 1f out, headway into close 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, 2nd near line, just failed, 2nd of 9, hd behind Ben Siegel (8-8) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Bell Ex One (IRE) 17-2 (9-5) In rear, closer halfway, pushed along and no impression under 4f out, some headway on outer under 2f out, 4th and ridden over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 5th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Sheishybrid (9-5) at Down Royal 1m 5f hcp gf in Jun.
Powerful Kieran (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Prominent early, dropped to mid-division from halfway, disputed 12th 3f out, soon one pace, 16th of 19, 11 1/4l behind Beyond Happy (9-10) at Curragh 1m 4f gd in Jun.
Bynx (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, 6th and pushed along entering straight, ridden and no impression on outer 1 1/2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 10l behind Ever A Dream (8-10) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Earl Of Tyrone (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Pushed along briefly early, waited with behind leaders and raced towards rear, pushed along again from before straight, headway and impeded under 2f out, soon switched right, stayed on well inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Exuma (9-11) at Killarney 1m 3f hcp gd in Jul.
