held up towards rear, progress to 3rd before 5th, left 2nd after 7th, improved to lead after 10th, travelled well before 2 out, asserted before last where not fluent, kept on well, comfortably
tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 1st, mistake and fell at 7th
led, not fluent at 10th and headed, not fluent 3 out and dropped to 3rd, soon weakened
raced 3rd, not fluent at times, 4th before 5th, left 3rd after 7th, dropped to 4th after 10th, detached after 4 out, weakened
in rear, slightly detached at 4th, left 4th after 7th, progress to 3rd after 10th, closed 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression on winner before last where mistake, no extra
With three of the five entries, Willie Mullins holds the key though Gordon Elliott's impressive Downpatrick winner Caltex could have his say. He was only 3l behind Minella Beau over a longer trip at Galway where he was in the lead at this distance though the latter had a bit in hand. Robin Des Foret is penalised for his two chase victories but found 2m2f on the short side in a Galway Grade 3 last time when looking the likely winner. Paul Townend is on board CAP D'AUBOIS, who reappeared after a long absence to score over 2m6f at Killarney where he never looked in any real danger. He's a smart prospect and can take this before going on to better things.
Robin Des Foret (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, ridden over 1f out and no impression in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Rashaan (11-1) at Galway 2m 2f (1) sft in Aug.
Caltex (FR) 8-11fav (11-12) Always prominent, tracked leader and headway to lead 7th, asserted after 3 out and clear before next, ridden approaching last and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Downpatrick 2m 3f Good - Yielding in Aug beating Celebrity Status (11-12) by 18l, 8 ran.
Cap D'Aubois (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ran freely, headway to lead 5th, travelling well and 2 lengths clear before last, pushed out and kept on well run-in, won at Killarney 2m 7f gd in Aug beating Pallaskenry (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Minella Beau (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, some headway 5 out and progress into 2nd 2 out, pushed along after last, ridden to lead 150 yards out, stayed on well, won at Galway 2m 7f sft in Aug beating Caltex (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 14 ran.
Gusty Rocky (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Towards rear, 6th at 9th, pushed along from 4 out, soon no impression, no extra straight and pulled up before 2 out, at Cork 3m gd in Aug.
