tracked leaders, close 3rd travelling best 3f out, smooth headway to lead entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed under 1f out, soon no extra
in touch in rear to 4f out, soon weakened, trailing when eased straight, tailed off
tracked leaders, 4th 3f out, headway into 2nd early straight, soon ridden to challenge, led under 1f out, stayed on well
led, driven along and strongly pressed from over 4f out, headed and weakened before straight, soon eased, tailed off
close up in 2nd, raced keenly, ridden to lead brielfy approaching straight, 3rd and no extra 1 1/2f out, eased final furlong
There probably isn't a great deal between PLACE VENDOME and Zalantoun on the form book but we just fancy the Ballydoyle colt to pick off his likely market rival back over this longer trip as he probably still has a bit of scope whereas John Oxx's charge has had plenty of chances and was already beaten when hampered at Tramore last time. Pageboy has won twice over hurdles since his last run on the Flat and looks the pick of the remainder as Brinestine has become disappointing and Index Linked returns from a break.
Pageboy (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Reluctant to enter stalls, prominent, led before halfway, ridden and headed approaching straight where brought wide, driven along in 3rd under 2f out, no impression and kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Highly Efficient (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 4f 3yo mdn sft in Jul '11.
Pesdivo (IRE) 33-1 (9-10) Always behind, weakened straight, last of 9, 31l behind Crystal Kangaroo (9-5) at Killarney 1m mdn stks.
Highflying (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Led, headed 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 5th of 12, 4l behind Seventh Avenue (9-0) at Dundalk 7f 2yo mdn stks pol in Oct.
Place Vendome (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Prominent, 4th halfway, soon pushed along, 2nd and ridden straight, 3rd and kept on final furlong, 3rd of 20, 2 3/4l behind Ebazan (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stks.
Zalantoun (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Attempted to make all, travelling best 5f out until pressed approaching 2f out, soon joined, narrowly headed over 1f out, beaten when briefly checked and switched close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Spider Zagato (9-5) at Tramore 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn hvy in Aug.
Index Linked 8-1 (8-11) 6th of 11, 5l behind Maiguri (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 3yo stk sft in May.
Brinestine (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Soon prominent, 3rd halfway, 4th straight, kept on same pace from under 2f out, 6th of 20, 8l behind Ebazan (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stks.
