held up, soon in rear, closed 4 out, chased leader straight, no impression and kept on same pace from last
a little keen early, tracked leaders, 3rd at 8th, one pace 2 out
held up, slight mistake 2nd, 8th at 8th, no impression 2 out, one pace
soon mid-division, 11th at 8th, improved to chase leaders straight, kept on run-in without reaching 1st 2
led, pressed straight, narrowly headed from over 100yds out, kept on without matching winner
soon chased leaders, 7th at 8th, one pace under pressure from before last
held up, 13th at 8th, improved to chase leaders straight, gained narrow lead and stayed on well from over 100yds out
jumped big 1st and reminder, soon mid-division, 10th at 8th, no extra when not fluent last, eased run-in
held up, 14th at 8th, pushed along 4 out, soon no danger
soon tracked leaders, 4th at 8th, lost place 4 out, no extra from before 2 out
prominent, soon 2nd, lost place and no impression 2 out
soon mid-division, 12th at 8th, progress to chase leaders straight, kept on same pace from before last
soon mid-division, 9th at 8th, closed up from before 3 out, one pace from after next
held up, slight mistake 3rd, 15th at 8th, pushed along next, soon no danger
soon chased leaders, 5th at 8th, no impression when hit last, one pace
soon chased leaders, 6th at 8th, one pace under pressure from before last
held up, 16th at 8th, under pressure 4 out, soon no danger, pulled up before 2 out
Top Of The Town has really found his form though a massive 12lb rise for a comfortable victory over today's rival Garri Rua at Bellewstown may just be enough to prevent a hat-trick. The latter has since completed a double and is only 1lb better off and though Manuka is another going well he's crept up the ratings recently without winning and was behind the progressive War Of The Pennys at Clonmel last time. OSCAR LANTERN is a stable companion of Top Of The Town and finished behind Garri Rua at Listowel but that was his first start since May and he looks the type to make further progress so he's given the nod in a wide-open handicap. Forever Gold alternates between hurdles and fences and is a fine stayer but would need significant rain for his stamina to come into play. Rise Of An Empire looks a progressive novice on a fair mark.
Gusty Rocky (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) Held up in rear, 10th halfway, progress on inner 2f out, switched left and squeezed through between horses to lead over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep beating Automated (9-12) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Forever Gold (IRE) 5-1fav (9-11) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 12th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, closer 2 out, under pressure before last, kept on into 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Fletchers Flyer (11-4) at Punchestown 3m 6f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Master Appeal (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Not fluent and unseated rider 1st, at Listowel 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Kilkishen (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, progress to lead 9th, pushed along after 3 out and headed entering straight, rallied to challenge when fell last, at Listowel 2m 6f Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Misty Lady (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Soon led, headed after 1st, chased leader and 3rd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 5th 2 out, no extra, 9th of 12, 21 3/4l behind Jack The Wire (10-2) at Listowel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Oscar Lantern (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, 10th halfway, progress approaching straight and went 3rd 2 out, no impression on winner in 2nd last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Garri Rua (10-7) at Listowel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Supreme Vinnie (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, dropped to rear approaching straight, no extra and not fluent 3 out, 12th of 13, dist behind Black Warrior (11-5) at Cork 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Akito (FR) 8-1 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden and dropped towards rear 8th, pulled up before next, at Listowel 2m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
Archie Meade (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led, headed under 4f out, remained prominent until weakened from under 2f out, last of 8, 28 3/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-0) at Listowel 1m 6f Yielding in Sep.
Rise Of An Empire (IRE) 5-4fav (11-8) Made all, not fluent 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well under pressure from last, won at Ballinrobe 2m 5f gd in Jul beating Lake Malawi (11-3) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Shannak (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Towards rear, 11th halfway, pushed along in 7th entering straight, no impression after 2 out and moderate 5th last, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 19 3/4l behind Garri Rua (10-7) at Listowel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Garri Rua (IRE) 11-4fav (12-0) Chased leaders, a little keen, closed up from 3 out, led before straight, soon ridden, joined when left in lead again 2 out and slight mistake, stayed on well to maintain advantage run-in, won at Listowel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep beating A Decent Excuse (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
War Of The Pennys (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) In touch towards rear, closed in 4th before straight, challenged before 2 out and soon on terms and slight mistake, stayed on best and edged slightly left run-in, all out, won at Clonmel 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep beating Manuka (11-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Crown Of Gold (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, progress into 6th 5 out, improved into 2nd and slight mistake 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well before last where slight mistake, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Listowel 3m mdn sft in Sep beating Don't Wait Up (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Manuka (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, a little keen and closed up from before 7th, 3rd before straight, switched left before 2 out where challenged and every chance and slight mistake, slight mistake last, carried slightly left and kept on without quite matching winner run-in, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind War Of The Pennys (11-6) at Clonmel 3m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Whizzzey Rascal (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-7) Made all, asserted from before 2 out, ridden out and stayed on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 3f mdn gd in Sep beating Kiera Royale (10-13) by 6 1/2l, 11 ran.
Memories Of Milan (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Towards rear, 9th halfway, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, went 5th 2 out, 4th and slight mistake last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 9 1/4l behind Garri Rua (10-7) at Listowel 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Top Of The Town (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Mid-division, improved to challenge and on terms 2 out, soon led, clear run-in, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Bellewstown 3m hcp gd in Aug beating Garri Rua (10-12) by 4 1/4l, 12 ran.