rear of mid-division, 7th after 6th, headway before 2 out where closed, led last, ridden and kept on run-in, all out close home, just held on
rear, slight mistake at 4th, 12th after 6th, some headway before 2 out, no impression before last, never a factor
in touch, raced wide, not fluent at 1st, 6th at 6th, 5th after 4 out, progress in 3rd after 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed last where not fluent, kept on well closing stages, just failed
in touch, not fluent at 2nd and 5th, 5th at 6th, took closer order in 3rd after 7th, closed 3 out, lost place before 2 out, weakened in 6th before last
mid-division, progress to 4th at 6th, not fluent 2 out, ridden and dropped to 5th before last, no extra run-in
rear of mid-division, 9th after 6th, headway to 6th after 4 out, no impression in 8th 2 out, no extra before last
close up, led after 4th, disputed after 5th, led at 7th, not fluent 4 out, headed 2 out, ridden in 3rd before last, kept on same pace
towards rear, 10th after 6th, not fluent at 8th, progress to 7th before 2 out, no impression after 2 out, weakened before last
towards rear, 8th after 6th, lost place before 2 out, weakened after 2 out, never a factor
prominent, 3rd at 6th, 4th after 7th, dropped to 7th after 4 out, dropped to rear 3 out, weakened 2 out
led, not fluent at 4th and headed, disputed after 5th, not fluent at 6th, headed at 7th, lost place after 3 out, soon weakened quickly, completely tailed off
Balinaboola Steel won this in 2020 and his stable also won it last year with subsequent Galway Plate winner Hewick. SHOOT FIRST, a convincing Tipperary maiden winner, never got close to Rock Road on his handicap debut at Galway but was impeded when making his run and can make amends. Noble Birth, who was four lengths behind, boosted the form by scoring at Ballinrobe. Perceval Legallois, a very easy maiden winner at Wexford, failed by just a head to concede Nathaniel's Dream 22lb at the Galway Festival so is an obvious threat. Arabian King has been running on the Flat since landing a Killarney maiden hurdle and his stable also run Another Choice, though both will need to improve. Wild Hunt was in excellent form earlier this year though could just need the run.
Macgiloney (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along in 6th and no impression when slight mistake 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 10, 28 1/2l behind Darver Star (11-13) at Galway 2m 5f Yielding in Sep.
Shoot First (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear early, mid-division halfway, progress into 8th after 3 out, ridden into 5th entering straight, 3rd last, kept on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 6 1/2l behind Rock Road (11-6) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Perceval Legallois (FR) 10-3fav (11-8) Soon prominent, bumped before 2nd, 6th before 5th, 7th after 7th, progress after 3 out, improved to 3rd 2 out, ridden and stayed on in 2nd final 150 yards, just held, 2nd of 16, hd behind Nathaniel's Dream (10-0) at Galway 3m hcp sft in Jul.
Another Choice (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders disputing 4th, went 3rd and bad mistake 8th, slight mistake next, ridden in moderate 3rd entering straight, soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace, went moderate 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 9l behind The Friday Man (11-6) at Navan 2m 6f gd in Sep.
Noble Birth 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, 3rd and pushed along after 2 out, switched left before last and headway to lead early run-in, ridden and edged right early final furlong, kept on well, won at Ballinrobe 3m 2f hcp gd in Aug beating Not So Simple (10-9) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Chiricahua (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Held up in 4th, bad mistake 5th, rider lost irons until after next, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, no impression 2 out, kept on one pace from before last, 3rd of 5, 6 3/4l behind The Bosses Oscar (11-10) at Limerick 2m 4f gd in Jul.
Riggs (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon no impression on leaders, moderate 6th 3 out, no impression, 5th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Lieutenant Highway (11-4) at Bellewstown 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Arabian King 6-1 (9-11) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, lost place on inner and dropped towards rear entering straight, soon ridden and no extra under 2f out, 9th of 10, 9 1/2l behind Anna Bunina (10-6) at Killarney 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Bronson In Blue (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace run-in to go 4th close home, 4th of 9, 7 3/4l behind Noble Birth (11-5) at Ballinrobe 3m 2f hcp gd in Aug.
Wild Hunt 10-3 (11-0) Rear of mid-division, mistake 4th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and headway on outer into 5th after 2 out, 3rd at last, under pressure and kept on well run-in, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Nell's Well (11-8) at Cork 3m hcp gd in Mar.
Sweet Street (IRE) 17-2 (11-5) Always towards rear, never a factor, mistakes 5th and 7th, no impression when fell 6 out, at Tipperary 2m 7f Good - Yielding in May.
Balinaboola Steel (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Mid-division, dropped to rear at 6th, last and mistake 7th, weakened, 8th of 10, 34 1/4l behind Il Courra (11-5) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f hcp gd in Sep.
Smitty Bacall (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 7th halfway, pushed along and no impression in rear of mid-division before 3 out, soon no extra, 11th of 13, dist behind Carnet De Stage (11-6) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Mont Saint Vincent (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Held up, pushed along and lost ground 3 out, no headway and beaten 2 out, 9th of 13, 31 1/2l behind Blairgowrie (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
