held up towards rear, slight mistake 5th, closer in 4th entering straight, ridden into 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace
chased leader in 2nd, disputed from 4th, led next, asserted before 2 out, pushed out briefly after 2 out, clear last, easily
led, disputed 4th, headed next, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no extra in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace
settled behind leaders, 3rd from 3rd, 4th 4 out, ridden in 5th before straight, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 3rd, soon 4th, 3rd 4 out, slight mistake next and soon dropped towards rear, ridden and weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, progress into 4th 3 out, ridden into 2nd before 2 out, no impression on leader, 3rd after 2 out, kept on one pace, slight mistake last
This is usually a decent contest and it should be no exception this time. Willie Mullins must be testing the water with ESCAPE FOOTWEAR, a winning point-to-pointer and bumper who scored over 2m5f on her hurdling debut at Tramore. It's a surprise to see her dropping back in trip but her trainer must believe the testing ground will ensure her stamina comes into play. Bryan Cooper has chosen to ride Gangster for the champion trainer rather than the same owner's Beau Et Sublime. He's another who looks destined for longer trips having scored over 2m4f at Roscommon before disappointing when odds-on at the Galway Festival. Prickly looks a big threat to the Mullins duo though he has no form on ground anything likes as testing as this nor has After Rain, whose path to victory on good going at Killarney was smoothed when his nearest rival fell at the last.
After Rain (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway on wide outer entering straight, went 2nd travelling well 3 out, led next, travelling well when left further clear at last, pushed out briefly, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Killarney 2m 1f mdn gd in Aug beating Mighty Concorde (11-4) by 9l, 15 ran.
Gangster (FR) 8-11fav (11-6) Chased leaders, slight mistake 1st, 4th halfway, improved into 2nd after 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra in 4th when mistake last, 5th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Sandymount Duke (11-12) at Galway 2m 4f gd in Jul.
Go Forty Go (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, led from 1st, jumped slightly right 3rd, joined from 4 out, bad mistake 3 out and headed, soon no impression, 5th 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 4 3/4l behind Swansea Mile (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f gd in Jul.
Prickly (IRE) 5-6fav (11-12) Chased leaders in 3rd, took closer order from 7th, went 2nd before next, improved to lead before 2 out and kept on well run-in, easily, won at Kilbeggan 2m 2f mdn gd in Aug beating Ballybryan (11-4) by 9 1/2l, 16 ran.
Escape Footwear (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, progress to lead after 3 out, ridden to assert approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Tramore 2m 5f mdn gd in Aug beating Barbalicious (10-13) by 12l, 11 ran.
Flaviana (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Mid-division, progress into 5th before straight, 4th and slight mistake 3 out, ridden into close 3rd 2 out and slight mistake, kept on well to narrow lead run-in and asserted close home, won at Down Royal 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Aug beating Catcheragain (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Beau Et Sublime (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Soon mid-division, improved to track leaders approaching straight, chased leader from 2 out, challenged last where slight mistake, pushed out and led run-in, stayed on best, won at Roscommon 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Aug beating Orion's Might (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 18 ran.
