led, joined and ridden under 3f out, soon headed and squeezed for room under 2f out, no impression and eased final furlong
prominent, 4th over 3f out, ridden 2f out and kept on final furlong without troubling winner
chased leaders and took keen hold early, 5th 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression and weakened final furlong
mid-division, improved into 3rd on the rail under 2f out, led just inside final furlong and kept on well closing stages
mid-division, ridden over 2f out and soon short of room, every chance from a furlong and kept on same pace closing stages
towards rear, ridden and improved on the outer under 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out and kept on same pace
slowly into stride, badly checked and dropped to rear over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression from under 2f out
towards rear, 12th 3f out, ridden over 2f out and kept on well final furlong
prominent, 3rd over 3f out, ridden and led under 2f out, headed just inside final furlong and kept on same pace closing stages
towards rear, ridden in rear 3f out and no impression from 2f out
raced in 2nd, improved to dispute 3f out and soon led, ridden, pressed and headed 2f out, no impression and weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden under 3f out, no impression from over 1f out
towards rear, ridden over 2f out and some progress into mid-division, no impression and weakened final furlong
A tricky race for punters with a number of improving types in opposition and WEXFORD OPERA looks the one to be on. Kevin Manning's four-year-old obliged in taking fashion at Sligo and he was far from disgraced when dropped back in trip at the Curragh. Shipyard has to reverse form with our selection but any further rain wouldn't inconvenience him, while Toccata Blue made a pleasing reappearance at Dundalk and gets another chance off the same mark. Mick Halford and Kevin Condon have saddled recent winners of this handicap so any confidence behind Won Diamond or Ballyorban would make them of interest. 2011 victor, Six Of Hearts returns and he's beginning to look dangerously handicapped these days.
Antious (ARG) 33-1 (9-9) Soon towards rear, some headway 1f out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 9th of 10, 6l behind Slade Power (9-9) at Curragh 5f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun '13.
Won Diamond 5-1 (9-5) Soon chased leaders, well off the pace, moderate 4th over 4f out, ridden before straight, no impression from 2f out, 10th of 11, 19l behind Cardinal Palace (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Oct.
Wexford Opera (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Chased leaders on stands' side, 6th 2f out, soon ridden, 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 20, 3 1/2l behind Great Minds (9-4) at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in May.
Machete Mark (IRE) 10-3fav (9-6) Towards rear, switched to outer 2f out, 7th and no impression 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 10, 7l behind Seanie (9-2) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Zalty (FR) 4-1fav (9-4) Soon chased leaders, 5th early straight, no impression under pressure in moderate 4th and kept on same pace from 1f out, 5th of 14, 5l behind Intensical (8-6) at Naas 7f hcp 60-100 in Apr.
Six of Hearts 25-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, progress on outer 2f out, soon ridden, 8th 1f out, no impression, 11th of 20, 12l behind Great Minds (9-4) at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in May.
Toccata Blue (IRE) 7-2fav (9-9) Raced close 2nd, led entering straight, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Our Manekineko (9-5) at Dundalk 1m stks 0-85 pol in Apr.
Ballyorban (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, moderate 11th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 8th of 20, 9l behind Great Minds (9-4) at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in May.
Iron Major (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Mid-division, 9th early straight, ridden to go moderate 6th 1f out, chased leaders and stayed on without threatening inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Intensical (8-6) at Naas 7f hcp 60-100 in Apr.
Shipyard (USA) 7-2fav (10-0) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to narrow lead 2f out, soon ridden and disputed, close 2nd 1f out, kept on final furlong, just held, 2nd of 9, shd behind Strait Of Zanzibar (9-8) at Down Royal 7f hcp gd in May.
Ask Dad 25-1 (8-4) Soon mid-division, 9th 3f out, dropped to 12th and no impression from under 2f out, 10th of 15, 20l behind That's Plenty (9-7) at Curragh 1m hcp in May.
Versilia Gal (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Prominent in 3rd, 6th after 2f, 8th halfway, pushed along 3f out, no impression straight, 12th of 15, 11l behind Harley's Harley (9-2) at Leopardstown 7f hcp in May.
Golden Shoe (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, mid-division halfway, ridden into 6th 1 1/2f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 15, 9l behind Harley's Harley (9-2) at Leopardstown 7f hcp in May.
Cash Or Casualty (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and no impression halfway, no extra, 12th of 13, 11l behind More Questions (8-8) at Navan 5f hcp gd in May.
Jembatt (IRE) 10-1 (8-3) In rear, never a factor, pushed along in 12th 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 9th of 13, 7l behind More Questions (8-8) at Navan 5f hcp gd in May.
