slowly away, soon recovered and tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and lost place early straight, moderate 5th over 2f out, kept on one pace
soon led, pushed along early straight and ridden over 2f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, headed 100 yards out, no impression on winner close home
mid-division, 5th halfway, went 3rd early straight, ridden 1 1/2f out and no impression inside final furlong, 4th and no extra final 100 yards
towards rear early, 6th halfway, went 4th and pushed along early straight, ridden and no impression over 1f out, went 3rd 100 yards out, kept on well
led early, tracked leader and 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure and led 100 yards out, asserted close home
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and dropped towards rear early straight, soon no extra
towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression 4f out, ridden and moderate 6th under 2f out, no extra final furlong
always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression early straight, soon no extra
An intriguing contest with Emmet Mullins confusing the issue by running both Cape Gentleman and The Shunter, both high-class performers over jumps with the former also rated 100 on the level. He's been racing over fences since placed in last year's Galway Hurdle and both ran in last month's Galway Plate. The latter won a maiden on the Flat at Sligo in very easy fashion and may prove best of the pair. Jerandme has had a break after scoring easily at Dundalk in February followed by a second place in a strong Leopardstown handicap chase the following month but the vote goes to the lightly-raced RULING, who hasn't run since landing a 1m2f Curragh maiden in September. He's yet to prove he stays this far but ran in the Queen's Vase before that so his trainer must believe in his stamina.
Dark Spark (IRE) 11-2cfav (11-12) Led, ran around slightly approaching 1st, slight mistakes 4th and 6th, headed 7th, disputed again before 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon no extra and kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 18 1/4l behind Magnor Glory (11-1) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Jerandme (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Soon led narrowly, slight mistake at 3rd and headed, led before 6th, headed after 3 out (normal 4 out), disputed after 2 out, headed before last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Discordantly (11-6) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Mar.
Ruling (GER) Evensfav (9-7) Chased leaders, 2nd 4f out, led travelling well 2 1/2f out, ridden clear 1 1/2f out, briefly bumped rail, well clear and stayed on strongly under pressure final furlong, eased close home, easily, won at Curragh 1m 2f mdn gd in Sep beating Coolnaugh Haze (9-7) by 9l, 13 ran.
The Shunter (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders early, mistake 4th, soon mid-division, closer 5 out, 7th next, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 21, 14 1/4l behind Hewick (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Cape Gentleman (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Mid-division early, hampered 3rd, tracked leaders from 5th, 3rd halfway, close up 5 out and left disputing, mistake and headed next, 3rd after 3 out, ridden in 4th after last, no extra 1f out, 9th of 21, 14 3/4l behind Hewick (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Balaclava (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, no danger from 5f out, never a factor, tailed off, 9th of 10, dist behind Kottayam (11-0) at Tramore 2m mdn gf in Aug.
Dixon Line 33-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 5th approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 8th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Just Jacob (11-8) at Sligo 2m 2f hcp gd in Aug.
Sani Pass (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Led and disputed, headed 5th, disputed again 3 out, ridden and headed before straight, soon no extra and weakened, 13th of 15, dist behind Shean Glory (11-2) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp gd in May.
Chiricahua (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Held up in 4th, bad mistake 5th, rider lost irons until after next, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace from before last, 3rd of 5, 6 3/4l behind The Bosses Oscar (11-10) at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Jul.
Patrick Joseph 66-1 (11-12) Held up, rear halfway, ridden and no impression under 3f out, weakened, last of 5, dist behind Castlegrace Paddy (11-12) at Killarney 1m 6f mdn gd in Jul.
