rear of mid-division, 16th halfway, some progress on outer approaching straight, pushed along 2f out and 6th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 6th approaching straight, no extra 2f out, eased final furlong
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 8th approaching straight, pushed along and no extra under 2f out
tracked leaders, progress to dispute briefly halfway, 2nd approaching straight, pushed along and no extra under 2f out, weakened
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd approaching straight, under pressure and kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, 12th halfway, progress on inner 2f out, 5th 1f out and switched right, kept on well to lead close home
mid-division on outer, progress into 4th before halfway, pushed along approaching straight and no extra 2f out, eased final furlong
towards rear, pushed along and some progress on outer under 2f out, 12th 1f out, kept on one pace
towards rear, some progress on outer entering straight, no impression over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ran freely, 10th halfway, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra under 2f out
rear of mid-division, 17th halfway, pushed along on outer entering straight and 11th 1f out, kept on one pace
towards rear, pushed along and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace from over 1f out
mid-division, 13th halfway, progress 2f out and ridden in 4th 1f out, challenged 100 yards out, under pressure and drifted right closing stages
held up in rear, pushed along and switched right entering straight, ridden and some progress in 15th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 8th close home
chased leaders, 8th halfway, 5th approaching straight, ridden under 2f out and no impression in 7th 1f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, 9th approaching straight, pushed along 2f out and no impression in 8th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, 14th halfway, hampered 5f out, pushed along towards rear entering straight, no threat from 2f out
mid-division, 9th halfway, progress on outer approaching straight and 2nd under 2f out, ridden to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, headed by winner close home
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and no extra 2f out
mid-division, 15th halfway, hampered on inner 5f out, pushed along towards rear 2f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 11th halfway, hampered and lost place 5f out, pushed along 2f out and some progress in 10th 1f out, kept on one pace
always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression on outer 2f out, kept on one pace
led, joined briefly halfway, ridden 2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, kept on under pressure, headed and no extra close home
This is as tough as ever and it's difficult to find any of the 23 runners without a chance. Sr Cartage scrapes in on the bottom rung despite winning his last two and looking very progressive, though he's yet to race over this trip. Sir Ector won the race two years ago when it was run over slightly shorter and though he hasn't won since he's been racing at a high level on the Flat and over hurdles. Willie Mullins won the race a year ago with Clondaw Warrior and DIGEANTA looks a similar type. A winning bumper and hurdler, he added the Irish Cesarewitch to his tally last time and though 4lb higher he appeared to win with a bit in hand so can complete the double. Runner-up Guard Of Honour has to be considered with a pull in the weights but Silver Concorde, who started favourite, couldn't muster up enough pace in the closing stages. Modem looks a big danger as his two Flat victories in the summer have been followed by a double over hurdles and Pyromaniac is another to consider on his victories on the Flat and over hurdles in the spring.
Toe The Line (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, raced wide into straight, ridden over 2f out, no impression in 3rd from 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 6 3/4l behind Endless Time (9-0) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gf in Oct.
Sir Ector (USA) 12-1 (11-12) Soon chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, no impression and not fluent last, one pace, 8th of 20, 11 3/4l behind Powersbomb (10-6) at Galway 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Zafayan (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along in last from 3rd, detached and slow jump 5th, no extra from before next, completely tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Golden Spear (10-6) at Listowel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Digeanta (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Soon led, pushed along under 3f out, ridden 2f out, strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, kept on strongly final furlong, driven out, won at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct beating Guard Of Honour (9-0) by 3/4l, 20 ran.
Benkei (IRE) 11-1 (8-13) Pushed along to track leaders, bumped slightly early in 6th, soon 4th, pushed along over 3f out, still 4th and no impression from over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Silwana (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Silver Concorde 4-1fav (9-11) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 6th 7f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden in 6th under 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 20, 3 1/4l behind Digeanta (9-10) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Venezia (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway to 8th 5f out, pushed along in 11th 3f out, soon ridden, weakened under 2f out, 17th of 20, 9 1/4l behind Digeanta (9-10) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Alton Bay (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, eased inside final furlong, 8th of 9, 16 1/2l behind Silwana (9-4) at Curragh 2m lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Heartbreak City (FR) 10-1 (8-8) Took keen hold tracking leaders, weakened final furlong, 18th of 34, 9 1/4l behind Grumeti (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Hudson's Bay (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Slightly slow away, raced in mid-division and 7th halfway, ridden on outer over 2f out, no impression and dropped towards rear from 1f out, 10th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Robertstown (8-4) at Naas 1m 4f hcp gf in Oct.
Waydownsouth (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Mid-division, 5th halfway, pushed along and no impression in 6th approaching straight, under pressure in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Ceylon (9-4) at Listowel 1m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Ancient Sands (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Towards rear, 9th halfway, pushed along over 3f out and ridden over 2f out, short of room 1 1/2f out, kept on well into never nearer 6th inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Robertstown (8-4) at Naas 1m 4f hcp gf in Oct.
Pyromaniac (IRE) 6-1fav (9-11) Dwelt, pushed along, soon raced in 10th, went 6th into straight, 4th 1f out, squeezed for room inside final furlong, kept on same pace,, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Fact Or Folklore (9-1) at Listowel 1m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Theophilus (IRE) 13-2 (9-8) Led, joined 6f out, pushed along 5f out, headed over 4f out, soon weakened, eased straight, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Western Boy (9-0) at Curragh 2m hcp sft in Aug.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Held up towards rear, headway far side over 2f out, hung right inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 20th of 34, 10 3/4l behind Grumeti (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Golden Spear 13-8fav (10-6) Chased leaders, took keen hold, 4th from 3rd, improved on inner to lead from 2 out, pushed out run-in, comfortably, won at Listowel 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep beating Tigris River (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Cassells Rock (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Took keen hold in mid-division, ridden along 5f out, weakened and eased 3f out, 30th of 34, 34 1/4l behind Grumeti (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Guard Of Honour (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Towards rear, 16th over 3f out, soon driven, good headway on inner to 8th 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong to 2nd, nearest finish, 2nd of 20, 3/4l behind Digeanta (9-10) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Unrequited (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 5f out, pushed along in 4th 3f out, soon ridden, progress to 3rd under 2f out, kept on final furlong, no extra close home and dropped to 5th, 5th of 20, 1 3/4l behind Digeanta (9-10) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Majenta (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Towards rear, good headway to chase leaders under 8f out, 4th 7f out, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased inside final furlong, last of 20, 18 3/4l behind Digeanta (9-10) at Curragh 2m hcp gd in Oct.
Modem 1-10fav (11-2) Made all, 5-lengths clear for most, asserted entering straight, pushed out and kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m gd in Oct beating Baby Jake (11-2) by 5l, 2 ran.
Shamar (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd 4f out, ridden in 3rd 3f out, no extra over 2f out, 14th of 17, 22 1/2l behind Noble Inn (10-12) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Sep.
Sr Cartage (IRE) 6-4fav (9-6) Soon led, pushed along 2f out, soon asserted, stayed on well, comfortably,, won at Listowel 1m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep beating Cocoon (9-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Bayan (IRE) 14-1 (8-2) Led after 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 14th of 34, 6l behind Grumeti (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Macnicholson (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Briefly led early before settling behind the leaders, dropped to 6th halfway, ridden over 2f out and soon switched to outer, 5th 1f out and kept on strongly inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Robertstown (8-4) at Naas 1m 4f hcp gf in Oct.
Neverushacon (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, led from 4th, slight mistake 5th, joined from 6th and slight mistake 3 out, headed approaching 2 out where slight mistake, soon no impression in 3rd, one pace, 3rd of 8, 25 1/2l behind Bachasson (11-4) at Galway 2m Yielding in Jul.
