mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden towards rear 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong
soon chased leader in 2nd, disputed halfway, ridden to lead 2f out, kept on well final furlong
towards rear for most, ridden and dropped behind over 3f out, soon weakened and tailed off
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2 1/2f out and saddled slipped, eased over 1f out, unseated rider last 150 yards
rear of mid-division, ridden in 10th 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace from 1f out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden 2f out, 4th 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
towards rear, ridden 2f out, ran on well inside final furlong
very slowly away, always well behind, tailed off
mid-division early, towards rear halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, kept on into 2nd inside final furlong, not reach winner
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden over 2f out, no extra entering straight, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden into 7th 2f out, 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace
soon led, joined and disputed halfway, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra final furlong
mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, under pressure in 6th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along in 7th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out
towards rear, ridden 2f out, wide outside entering straight, ran on strongly final furlong to go 3rd close home
SEREFELI (NAP) won this last year from exactly the same mark and has been racing over further. He looks to have been primed for another crack and though Guanabara Bay, who finished a close fifth, is 6lb better off Peter Fahey's charge can go in again. Dream Focus was making his handicap debut when runner-up at Gowran on Saturday and has improvement in him though this is a very tough contest and Keep Believing was running well on ground with some give in the spring. Ace Of Diamonds has been racing over much further while Alfirak has only won at Dundalk and Lady Nathaniel has never won.
California Lad 20-1 (8-4) Pushed along from stalls and settled in mid-division, 5th from halfway and soon pushed along, closer in 3rd from 3f out and ridden in 2nd from 2f out, further progress to dispute lead from 1f out, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Elm Grove (9-0) at Ballinrobe 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Jul.
St Gallen (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Soon raced in 7th, effort straight, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 13, 6 3/4l behind Roibeard (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Edification 25-1 (11-1) Held up, soon towards rear, some headway and kept on same pace from before straight, 14th of 26, 36l behind Sparky Stowaway (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Dec.
Keep Believing (IRE) 10-3 (9-3) Soon raced in 4th, challenged over 1f out, on terms inside final furlong, narrowly headed and kept on without matching winner close home, 2nd of 13, nk behind Thiswaycadeaux (9-2) at Sligo 7f hcp Yielding in May.
Ace Of Diamonds (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) In touch on outer, soon tracked leader in 2nd, progress to lead narrowly over 5f out, headed 1f out, weakened, 7th of 8, 6 1/4l behind The Mouse Doctor (10-0) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gf in Jul.
Lady Nathaniel (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) In touch, progress to 2nd after 1 1/2f, 3rd over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, dropped to 4th under 1f out, no extra closing stages, 4th of 6, 4l behind Nimitz (9-6) at Navan 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Serefeli (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden from 3f out and dropped to 3rd from 2f out, 4th from 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Night Of Power (9-12) at Naas 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Dinkum Diamond (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden from 2f out, no impression and weakened from over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Signing Off (8-4) at Leopardstown 1m hcp gf in Jul.
Flowerhill Nova (IRE) 22-1 (9-4) Mid-division early before soon improving to chase leaders in 3rd, ridden from 2f out, soon lost place and weakened to rear, no extra from over 1f out, last of 9, 11 1/4l behind Signing Off (8-4) at Leopardstown 1m hcp gf in Jul.
Heart Of Gold 11-2 (10-0) Rear, 10th halfway, no impression on leaders over 1f out, some headway under 1f out, no danger, 8th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Ice Storm (9-9) at Sligo 7f hcp fll Good - Yielding in Jun.
Try Again (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Towards rear and 6th from 4 out, took closer order in 4th before 2 out where not fluent, improved to challenge in 2nd on outer before last where again not fluent, ridden and no impression run-in, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Count Simon (11-3) at Downpatrick 2m 1f gd in Jun.
Alfirak 6-4fav (10-0) Mid-division on outer, ridden from 2f out, no impression from over 1f out and kept on into never nearer 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Button Popper (8-4) at Roscommon 7f hcp gf in Jul.
Delegating 33-1 (8-4) Held up, 12th over 3f out, progress and not much room behind horses under 2f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Red Avenger (8-7) at Curragh 7f hcp gf in Jul.
Hitchcock 25-1 (9-8) Rear of mid-division, 11th halfway, dropped to rear 1 1/2f out, soon weakened, eased under 1f out, 14th of 15, 12l behind Secret Memories (8-10) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gf in Jul.
Avalanche 12-1 (9-1) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression early straight, some headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Artistic Melody (9-10) at Limerick 1m hcp gf in Jun.
Dream Focus (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Soon raced in 5th, pushed along approaching straight, chased winner and kept on same pace without threatening from over 1f out, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Roibeard (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Guanabara Bay (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Completely missed break and detached, closed up on field halfway, progress over 1f out, kept on well final furlong to 3rd close home, never nearer, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Kindly (9-9) at Fairyhouse 6f hcp gf in Jul.
Lyfka 25-1 (9-7) Soon raced in 5th, pushed along before halfway, soon lost place and no extra from over 2f out, last of 13, 27 1/4l behind Thiswaycadeaux (9-2) at Sligo 7f hcp Yielding in May.
Storm Ranger (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Towards rear, 14th halfway, ridden and progress on outer over 1f out, kept on well, never on terms, 5th of 15, 1 1/4l behind Secret Memories (8-10) at Leopardstown 7f hcp gf in Jul.
Tessonna (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear and 13th from halfway, no impression from over 2f out, 12th of 14, dist behind Solar Heat (8-13) at Ballinrobe 1m 5f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Yamato (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Rear of mid-division, no impression straight, never a factor, 9th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Admodum (9-9) at Gowran Park 1m hcp gf in May.