settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden in 7th when slightly hampered 2 out, no extra
held up, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression before 2 out
chased leader early, 5th halfway, soon lost place, dropped towards rear 6 out, no impression after
held up towards rear, 9th halfway, closer in 7th 5 out, ridden into 6th before 2 out, 5th and under pressure when fell 2 out
chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway into 4th 4 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on to challenge last, led run-in and kept on well
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra from last, kept on same pace run-in
settled behind leaders early, headway into 2nd halfway, improved to lead approaching 2 out, soon challenged and ridden, headed after last, no extra and kept on same pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th 3 out, no extra before straight
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra in 3rd 2 out, 4th approaching last, kept on same pace
held up in rear, ridden in 9th and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace from before last
It's rare for a four-year-old to land this and Big Game Hunter will have to run better than when landing a controversial maiden at Clonmel last month. DRUMFIRE, very useful on the Flat, looked a bright prospect when narrowly beaten by Universal Truth at Galway and though he didn't perform to that level when only third at Navan subsequently he is given a chance to prove that run all wrong. Bideford Legend probably needs further and softer ground while Macville will have to step-up considerably on her victory from a lowly mark at Tipperary though there is every suggestion she can do so. Steel Tango will find this difficult with penalties but Lucy Stone can go well with her allowances.
Persian Gayle (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, stayed on to challenge last, led run-in and kept on well, won at Galway 2m 4f nh nov hdl gf in Jul beating Cooper's Crest (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Steeltown (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Soon moderate 3rd, 2nd approaching 5 out, closed next, led 3 out, soon clear, reduced lead approaching last but still going okay when left with race winning advantage, stayed on well, won at Roscommon 2m nov hdl in Sep beating Dark Prospect (11-12) by 6l, 13 ran.
Talab 10-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, hampered 6th, soon lost place, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Lough Ferrib (11-1) at Listowel 3m hcp hdl in Sep, 18 ran.
Tango Knight (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, close 4th when hampered next, no impression approaching last, 8th of 14, 9l behind Molly's Boy (9-12) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl.
Macville (IRE) 3-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, travelling well in close 4th entering straight, led before last, stayed on strongly run-in, not extended, won at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp hdl beating Tally Em Up (9-3) by 7l, 10 ran.
Bideford Legend (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Chased leader in 2nd, improved to lead 7 out, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra and kept on same pace from before last, 4th of 25, 10l behind Prince Rudi (10-8) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 88-130 gd in Apr.
Drumfire (IRE) 9-10fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 6th halfway, 4th 3 out, 5th when not fluent next, stayed on from last, 3rd of 30, 4l behind Oneeightofamile (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hdl sft in Sep.
Big Game Hunter (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, improved into 2nd before 3 out, led approaching straight, joined and mistake 2 out, edged left before last, narrow advantage run-in, kept on best under pressure, demoted to 2nd, in a race won by Big Game Hunter (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4yo mdn hdl in Sep, 18 ran.
Lucy Stone (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Close 2nd, disputed lead after 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, 3rd last, kept on, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Sivota (11-1) at Navan 2m 6f hdl sft in Sep.
Happy Milly (IRE) 7-4fav (10-13) Rear of mid-division, no extra from after 4 out, 10th of 13, well behind Nivek's Dream (11-1) at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn hdl gf in May.
