towards rear, never a factor, 16th halfway, slight mistake 9th, detached 4 out, pulled up after next
rear of mid-division, mistake 2nd and reminders after next, 15th halfway, moderate 14th and ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace straight
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 5th after 3 out and no impression next, moderate 8th entering straight, weakened
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression 2 out, soon weakened
rear of mid-division, 13th halfway, progress approaching 2 out, ridden in 5th entering straight and no impression 1f out, no extra
rear of mid-division, 14th halfway, progress 2 out and 3rd entering straight, ridden in 2nd inside final furlong, no extra closing stages
prominent and disputed lead, headed 7th, soon no extra and dropped to rear, pulled up before 9th
chased leaders, 8th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 11th after 3 out, no extra, eased run-in
always prominent, led or disputed from 7th, led 3 out, ridden after last, under pressure and kept on well final furlong
rear of mid-division, 17th halfway, no extra and detached after 4 out, eased straight, tailed off
mid-division, 10th halfway, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden in 7th and no impression entering straight, no extra
prominent, led or disputed lead, headed 3 out, no extra next, weakened
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra in 9th after 3 out, weakened
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 2nd 2 out, ridden after last, under pressure and kept on one pace final furlong, no impression on winner closing stages
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, progress and slight mistake 2 out, ridden in 6th after last, no extra straight
towards rear, never a factor, detached 4 out, kept on one pace straight
chased leaders, 9th halfway, progress 2 out and 4th entering straight, soon ridden and no impression 1f out
mid-division, 11th halfway, mistake 9th, 13th and slight mistake 3 out, no extra and mistake next, kept on one pace
always towards rear, never a factor, detached 4 out, eased run-in
always rear, never a factor, detached before 5 out, pulled up before next
Aranhill Chief was in tremendous form at this time last year, scoring for the second time at the fixture when landing this narrowly from Usuel Smurfer. But the runner-up is much better off at the weights and looks to have been primed to go one better. Down Under bounced back to form at Kilbeggan in May but a 7lb rise gives him plenty to do and Never Complain looks to have a better chance after following his Tipperary victory with a fine run in a better race at Down Royal. ROHAN'S PRIDE went up 5lb for landing a strong Ballinrobe handicap before an even better run in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan behind Ravished. He's only gone up 1lb for that and, with Brian Hayes claiming 3lb, he looks the one to be on. Willie Mullins' pair Devils Bride and Urano have to be respected while A Decent Excuse ran well in the race last year.
Devils Bride (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Settled in 4th and briefly niggled along after 2nd, took closer order after 3 out, improved into 2nd after 2 out and led before last, not fluent last and ridden, soon headed and kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Rawnaq (11-6) at Down Royal 2m 4f gd in Jun.
Leavethelighton (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Bumped 1st, not much room and fell 2nd, at Roscommon 3m hcp gd in Jun.
Usuel Smurfer (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened from next, 12th of 17, dist behind Mydor (10-2) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Jan.
Seefood (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden entering straight, no extra 3 out, 7th of 9, 13 1/4l behind Erlkonig (10-10) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Held up in last pair, not fluent and pushed along 10th, 4th at 12th, 2nd and hit 3 out, dropped to 3rd and not fluent next, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 5 1/2l behind Maggio (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Urano (FR) 4-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, closer in 7th 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 15, 7 3/4l behind Rohan's Pride (10-3) at Ballinrobe 2m 7f hcp gd in May.
Rohan's Pride (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Soon led, joined 6th, soon headed, prominent, not fluent 4 out, dropped to 4th approaching straight, left 3rd at last, kept on into 2nd again run-in without troubling winner, 2nd of 12, 4 3/4l behind Ravished (10-8) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Run With The Wind (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to challenge when carried right flat, stayed on well under pressure, led final strides, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Owen Glendower (10-13) by shd, 7 ran.
Rogue Angel (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Led and disputed, slight mistake 2nd, travelled best entering straight, ridden and challenged 2 out, soon headed, no extra in 4th last, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Abolitionist (11-6) at Limerick 3m gd in Jul.
Kashline (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Soon settled behind leaders, 5th and slight mistake at 6th, bad mistake next, dropped behind from 10th, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Limerick 2m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Ad Idem 25-1 (11-11) Towards rear, 10th from 7th, no impression next and slight mistake, no extra 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 11, 33 3/4l behind Buster Dan Dan (11-9) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Aranhill Chief (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, slight mistakes 4th and 8th, mistake 4 out, under pressure 3 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, eased straight, completely tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Ravished (10-8) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Definite Ruby (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Held up, soon mid-division, 8th after 4th, 5th approaching straight, one pace, 5th of 12, 8 1/2l behind Ravished (10-8) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Perfect Promise (IRE) 6-1fav (11-12) Mid-division, 6th with a circuit to race, improved into 4th before 3 out and soon ridden, 3rd after next and disputed lead last, headed run-in and no extra close home, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Abolitionist (11-1) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Never Complain (IRE) 13-2 (9-13) Mid-division not fluent 6th, 6th before 7th, 5th after 3 out and ridden in 3rd after next, went 2nd at last and kept on well run-in without matching winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Elegant Statesman (9-10) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
Protaras (USA) 12-1 (10-3) Prominent early, some slight mistakes, dropped to 10th after 4th, reminders 5th, soon under pressure, no impression 2 out, no extra and eased last, tailed off, 8th of 12, dist behind Ravished (10-8) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Speckled Wood (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, soon 8th, 9th at 10th, mistake 5 out, closer order from 4 out, pushed along to track leaders before straight, switched left before 2 out, no impression in 4th at last where jumped slightly right, one pace, 4th of 15, 9l behind Aranhill Chief (10-6) at Roscommon 3m hcp gd in Jun.
Down Under (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) In rear, 10th halfway, 8th 5 out, improved to 3rd before 3 out, travelled well into 2nd 2 out, challenged leader before last, ridden run-in and kept on best, won at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in May beating Corporate Box (10-4) by 4 1/4l, 11 ran.
King Leon (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Soon chased leaders, slight mistakes 7th and 8th, 4th from 9th, pushed along from 11th, chasing leader when mistake 3 out, 5th 2 out, soon no extra,, 6th of 15, 30 3/4l behind Valours Minion (10-9) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Marshim (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 8th halfway, 11th 4 out, ridden into mid-division 3 out, progress to 5th 2 out, mistake at last, kept on one pace, dropped to 7th, 7th of 18, 8 3/4l behind Millstream Ned (10-8) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
A Decent Excuse (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) In rear, slight mistake 3rd, slightly impeded 9th, slight mistake 10th, soon under pressure, no impression from 4 out, slight mistake next, weakened,, 5th of 6, dist behind Sandymount Duke (11-10) at Tipperary 3m gd in Jul.
Forever Gold (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden and no impression before straight, stayed on into moderate 7th 2 out, no impression in 5th last, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 14l behind Kilford (10-6) at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp Yielding in May.
As De Pique (IRE) 2-1fav (10-13) In rear, progress and pecked slightly 4 out, 4th travelling smoothly approaching straight, 2nd 2 out, led before last, ridden out and stayed on well run-in, comfortably,, won at Wexford 3m 2f hcp Yielding in Jul beating El Grande (10-13) by 10l, 9 ran.
