broke well, settled in 3rd, 2nd and ridden approaching straight, no impression from 1 1/2f out, one pace
always in rear
led, edged clear approaching straight, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, soon outpaced, 3rd and no extra final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, soon ridden, weakened before straight, eased final furlong
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd and smooth headway approaching straight, led 1 1/2f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well final furlong
slowly into stride and held up towards rear, moderate 7th into straight, ridden and no impression
held up, 7th halfway, 6th early straight, stayed on without threatening final furlong
settled 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching straight
held up, 6th halfway, 5th approaching straight, progress 1 1/2f out, stayed on into moderate 2nd final furlong
Purple finally got off the mark when dropped in trip at Killarney earlier this month but he's already been beaten twice off similar marks in handicaps and we prefer MATJAR. He's only won once on Turf so far but ran Van Rooney to a neck over 1m at Killarney on his latest start and is probably still on a decent mark. Clonmel third Our Breff could be open to further improvement but Curl Cat usually finds at least one too good and both Gumption and Love Nest disappointed last time. Gowran winner Shifting is tried in blinkers after finishing third at Ballinrobe and makes more appeal than If Per Chance of the others.
If Per Chance (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Soon mid-division, switched out to get a run and ridden in 4th over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong without getting to winner, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Bobskier (9-7) at Clonmel 1m 2f clm stks gd.
Buccaneer Bob (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Towards rear for most, no impression and kept on from 2f out, 10th of 13, 13l behind Missunited (10-0) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp 50-80 gd.
Purple (IRE) Evensfav (9-2) Prominent, 4th halfway, improved into 2nd early straight, ridden to lead under 2f out, swished tail, drifted right under pressure well inside final furlong, all out, won at Killarney 1m fll mdn stks beating Starstruck (9-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Matjar (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders in 6th, 5th and headway entering straight, 3rd under 2f out, led over 1f out, soon strongly pressed, kept on well, headed closing stages, 2nd of 12, nk behind Van Rooney (9-9) at Killarney 1m hcap.
Shifting (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Mostly 4th, ridden from under 3f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Jpevie (9-5) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f stks hvy in Aug.
Curl Cat (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Soon mid-division, headway when short of room over 2f out, no impression under pressure in 6th and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 7th of 13, 6l behind Missunited (10-0) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp 50-80 gd.
Our Breff (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway into 5th over 1f out, soon switched to outer and kept on well under pressure without threatening, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Missunited (10-0) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp 50-80 gd.
Gumption (IRE) 11-1 (9-5) Soon tracked leaders, hampered 2f out, no extra, 7th of 9, 27l behind Hail (9-5) at Clonmel 1m 2f mdn stks gd.
Love Nest 6-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 7l behind Toufan Express (9-10) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol.
Jumbo Prado (USA) 10-1 (9-7) Towards rear, progress on outer approaching straight, 5th 2f out, soon no extra, 9th of 15, 9l behind Diamond Pro (8-10) at Killarney 1m 3f hcp 47-65.
