soon raced in 5th, closer order from 4 out, 3rd into straight, soon pushed along, chased winner last, kept on without matching winner run-in
in rear, slight mistake 3rd, hit 9th, closer order from 4 out, pushed along from next, 4th early straight, no impression when fell 2 out
led, strongly pressed into straight, headed 2 out, dropped to 3rd from before last, no extra and one pace run-in
soon raced in 3rd, closer order from 4 out, pushed along from next, dropped to 5th early straight, left 4th from 2 out, one pace
tracked leader, pushed along from 10th, dropped to rear 3 out where pecked, soon no extra
soon raced in 4th on outer, 2nd from 4 out, almost on tems next, challenged travelling smoothly into straight, led 2 out, ridden out to maintain advantage run-in
Texas Jack has a penalty to carry for his Grade 2 victory in January of last year but has generally been competing at a much higher level than this. He was beaten a distance behind Letter Of Credit at Killarney in May and is much better than he showed there. The winner fell at the last when there with every chance at Galway last week while Lord Ben won at this meeting a year ago and will be better for last month's comeback at Killarney. Last year's Kim Muir winner Spring Heeled has contested all the major staying handicaps subsequently and is rarely disgraced but the vote goes to DEVILS BRIDE, who scored for the third time over fences in five starts when landing a handicap at Galway last week and arrives in better form than his rivals.
Texas Jack (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Soon towards rear, badly hampered 2nd, slight mistake 5 out, no extra last, tailed off, 14th of 22, dist behind Shanahan's Turn (10-10) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Letter Of Credit (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, 5th and slight mistake 4 out, closer in 4th after 3 out, ridden to challenge for 2nd when fell last, at Galway 2m 7f gd in Sep.
Lord Ben (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) In rear, 11th after 8th, mistake in 8th 3 out, no extra from 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind A Decent Excuse (9-12) at Killarney 2m 5f hcp gd in Aug.
Spring Heeled (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up, impeded 2nd, 14th halfway, not fluent 5 out, no impression next, behind approaching 2 out, tailed off, 12th of 22, dist behind Shanahan's Turn (10-10) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Toomdeely (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Soon led, mistake 5th and joined, slight mistake 7th, slight mistake 9th and headed, no extra 3 out, 8th of 15, 29 1/4l behind Knockraha Prince (11-9) at Killarney 2m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Devils Bride (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress into 5th 4 out, closer at last, ridden before straight, stayed on to challenge early straight, led final 200 yards, kept on well under pressure closing stages, won at Galway 2m 2f hcp gd in Sep beating Fosters Cross (10-10) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
