mid-division, 6th with a circuit to race, closer in 4th after 3 out and went 3rd before next, pushed along to challenge before last where mistake, ridden and kept on same pace run-in
soon led, very slow jump 1st, joined after 2nd, headed before 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up after 4 out
mid-division, 4th with a circuit to race, went 3rd before 4 out and 2nd after 3 out, improved to dispute lead before 2 out and travelled best, not fluent 2 out and soon ridden, headed run-in and kept on same pace close home
mid-division, not fluent 1st and 2nd, 5th with a circuit to race, not fluent 3 out, improved to briefly dispute lead before 2 out, soon dropped to 4th, ridden and no impression from before last
mid-division when big jump 1st, soon improved to track leaders, further progress to dispute lead after 2nd, led before 4 out, not fluent 4 out and soon joined, headed and almost ran out before 3 out, dropped to 7th before 2 out and eased
raced in rear, ridden before 3 out and soon no impression
mid-division, 6th with a circuit to race, 7th from 3 out, tenderly handled from before 2 out where not fluent, hit wing when jumping last, ridden run-in and kept on into 5th
chased leaders, 3rd with a circuit to race, went 2nd before 4 out, improved to dispute after 4 out, led before next, ridden and joined before 2 out, kept on best to regain lead run-in
towards rear of mid-division, 7th with a circuit to race, closer in 5th after 3 out, tenderly handled from before 2 out, ridden in 4th after last and kept on
towards rear, 8th with a circuit to race, ridden before 3 out and soon no impression
DEFINING YEAR isn't a prolific winner but he ran well in two handicaps at the Galway Festival and should be too strong for these rivals. Roconga followed a bumper victory with another good run on the level but disappointed when well supported over hurdles at Cork where he appeared to find 2m3f taxing his stamina. Rathmuck Native took some time to lose his maiden tag in bumpers last year and didn't reappear until last week when running well over hurdles at Ballinrobe so she looks a threat and the four-year-old Portmore Lough made an encouraging racecourse debut in a similar race to this at Tipperary.
Defining Year (IRE) 9-2fav (11-11) Held up, 12th early, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace from before last, 5th of 15, 8 1/2l behind Dollar And A Dream (10-9) at Galway 2m hcp sft in Aug.
Hold The Line (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Raced wide mid-division, headway over 4f out, close up, weakened and hung left over 2f out, 17th of 19, dist behind Blue Surf (9-6) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Roconga (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up, 9th halfway, progress into 4th after 4 out, ridden entering straight, no impression in 3rd after 3 out, kept on one pace, mistake last, dropped to 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 12l behind Mentor (11-12) at Cork 2m 3f mdn Yielding in Aug.
Rathmuck Native (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Towards rear, progress approaching 2 out and soon 5th, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Ciandarragh (11-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f mdn sft in Aug.
Carrickcloughanboy (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Soon chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 6th after 4th, slightly slow 4 out, pushed along from 3 out, one pace straight, 6th of 14, 7 3/4l behind The Scourge (11-6) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn gd in Jul.
Mokoro Man (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent early and raced keenly, not fluent 1st and soon settled in 2nd, not fluent 2nd, improved to lead before 3rd, joined before 5th where bad mistake and headed, dropped to 3rd before 5 out and soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Downpatrick 2m 7f mdn gd in Jul.
Hatch Hall 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, no impression and slight mistake 2 out, weakened, 6th of 8, dist behind Konig Hall (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f mdn sft in Aug.
Portmore Lough (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Pushed along briefly 2nd, soon chased leaders in 6th, closed to track leaders 6th where slight mistake, 4th 3 out, 3rd approaching straight and pushed along, no impression 2 out, one pace,, 3rd of 11, 10 1/2l behind Minella Berry (11-4) at Tipperary 2m mdn gd in Jul.
Mouskersize (IRE) 20-1 (9-10) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 9th of 16, 17 3/4l behind Johann Bach (9-13) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
Sweet Little Lies 100-1 (10-9) Always behind, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 6th of 11, dist behind St Peter's Square (11-2) at Tramore 2m mdn gf in Aug.
