mid-division early, 9th approaching halfway, lost place and no impression 3f out, weakened
mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, kept on same pace from before straight
soon towards rear, pushed along and progress approaching straight, stayed on well without threatening final furlong
towards rear, no impression approaching straight
pushed along early and soon in rear, some headway but no impression when switched right towards inner from early straight, stayed on well without threatening final furlong
soon chased leaders, 7th approaching halfway, closed up from 3f out, led over 2f out, headed under 1f out, one pace
mid-division early, 10th approaching halfway, no impression from before straight, soon no extra
led and disputed, soon led, headed under 3f out, weakened and eased from over 1f out
tracked leaders, disputed 3rd approaching halfway, led under 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, towards rear early, 12th approaching halfway, pushed along and progress on outer from over 4f out, challenged straight, kept on same pace without troubling winner inside final furlong
soon led and disputed until raced in 2nd for most, weakened approaching straight
tracked leaders, 6th approaching halfway, pushed along 4f out, kept on same pace straight
soon tracked leaders, 5th approaching halfway, one pace from before straight
mid-division early, 11th approaching halfway, no extra straight
tracked leaders, disputed 3rd approaching halfway, one pace from before straight
held up, soon towards rear, pushed along from 5f out, soon no danger
held up, 14th approaching halfway, headway towards outer approaching straight, led under 1f out, stayed on well
towards rear, pushed along and some progress from before straight, soon one pace
held up, 13th approaching halfway, no impression approaching straight
held up, 15th approaching halfway, pushed along and headway approaching straight, kept on same pace without threatening
One of the toughest races of the fixture to decipher though Wonder Laish, a winner at Ascot for William Haggas in 2015, is likely to have the bookies running for cover now in the charge of Charles Byrne and ridden by Derek O'Connor. Willie Mullins has three entries and Patrick's presence on Lagostovegas suggests the recent Killarney winner is the pick, though he's been raised a massive 17lb. Swamp Fox is 10lb higher than when landing this a year ago with today's rival BENKEI third. The winner was in superb form before that victory and is again having won his last two races over hurdles. He can go well again but the selection hasn't stood still and was a good fourth in a Listed contest at Down Royal on Friday so gets the vote with a huge advantage in the weights compared to last year. Rashaan, St Lawrence Gap and Miles To Memphis are all in such good form that they are impossible to ignore.
Zafayan (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, 7th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 15, 8 3/4l behind Three Kingdoms (8-10) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Benkei (IRE) 33-1 (9-9) Mid-division, went 3rd 4f out, pushed along in 5th over 2f out, under pressure and no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind The Tartan Spartan (9-9) at Down Royal 1m 6f lst (1) Good - Yielding in Jul.
Digeanta (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Chased leaders in 3rd, improved into 2nd from 4f out and ridden over 2f out, no impression and weakened from 1f out, 6th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Zeftan (8-13) at Curragh 2m hcp gf in Jul.
Ezanak (IRE) 2-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 3f out, stayed on to challenge under 2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Tandem (9-5) at Tipperary 1m 4f gd in Apr.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th and mistake 5th, close 3rd and slight mistake 10th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden from next, no impression on winner from 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 9 1/2l behind Sandymount Duke (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f gd in May.
Lagostovegas (IRE) 11-8fav (9-11) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, improved into 2nd 5f out, led 4f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on strongly, won at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul beating Shinghari (10-3) by 4 1/4l, 12 ran.
Wonder Laish 14-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, reminder after halfway, 11th over 3f out, soon no impression, 11th of 14, 28 3/4l behind Tigris River (8-13) at Curragh 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Jun.
Powersbomb (IRE) 11-10fav (9-7) Dwelt and pushed along, soon led, went on from over 2f out, soon ridden to assert, stayed on well, eased closing stages, comfortably, won at Roscommon 1m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Jul beating Flaming Sea (9-2) by 6 1/2l, 13 ran.
Rashaan (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, moderate 4th at 6th, closer order before next, 3rd 4 out and slight mistake, pushed along approaching straight, challenged between horses before 3 out, led and stayed on best closing stages, won at Cork 2m 4f gd in Jul beating Pique Sous (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Swamp Fox (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th after 5th, closed 4 out, 2nd before 3 out, soon challenged and on terms, led approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul beating Is She Diesel (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Argus (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Mostly disputing 2nd, dived at 3 out, trying to challenge when not much room 2 out, soon switched right, led and went right last, driven clear flat, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in May beating Mister Showman (11-1) by 3l, 4 ran.
Miles To Memphis (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Chased leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Jul beating Breathe Easy (11-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Shinghari (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, progress into 5th 3f out, 2nd 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression on winner 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 4 1/4l behind Lagostovegas (9-11) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jul.
Sir Ector (USA) 14-1 (10-0) Mid-division on outer, reminder at 7th, ridden 4 out, dropped to 9th on wide outer after 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Presenting Julio (10-0) at Roscommon 3m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
St Lawrence Gap (IRE) 3-1fav (10-0) Mid-division, some headway approaching straight and 4th 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon asserted and kept on well, won at Limerick 2m 1f hcp gf in Jun beating Wrap Star (9-7) by 4 3/4l, 11 ran.
Winter Lion (IRE) 25-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden early straight, soon weakened, 17th of 18, 20 1/4l behind Sea The Lion (8-6) at Navan 1m 5f hcp gd in Jun.
Whiskey Sour (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Mid-division, 8th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, progress into 4th after 3 out, ridden to dispute before 2 out where slight mistake, led approaching last, kept on well run-in, won at Tramore 2m mdn gf in Jun beating Papal Motel (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Automated 5-2fav (9-11) Mid-division closer approaching straight and 6th 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, led 150 yards out, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jun beating Dara Tango (8-6) by 2 3/4l, 18 ran.
Elishpour (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Chased leaders in 4th, headway into 2nd on inner entering straight, led travelling well 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed and joined inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Rashaan (9-4) at Dundalk 2m pol in Feb.
Sweet Company (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, no impression from 3f out, never a factor, 12th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Sea The Lion (8-10) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
The Graduate (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Towards rear, not fluent 1st and 2nd, pushed along in 13th from 3 out and soon no impression, 12th of 14, dist behind Cinema De Quartier (11-4) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn gd in Jun.
Mountain Rock (IRE) 9-10fav (11-7) Held up behind leaders, dropped to 6th halfway, progress into 4th 4f out, ridden in moderate 4th over 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, not trouble winner final furlong, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Sandymount Duke (11-7) at Leopardstown 1m 7f mdn gf in Jul.
Alton Bay (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along 2f out and ridden in 3rd over 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Sandstorming (11-5) at Bellewstown 1m 4f gd in Jul.
