slowly into stride and held up in touch in 5th, ridden 2f out, short of room 1 1/2f out, soon switched to outer, kept on under hands and heels final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, 2nd 1 1/2f out, no impression final furlong
held up in touch in last, went 5th when slipped on bend entering straight, ridden in last 3f out, 4th on outer 1 1/2f out, improved into 2nd under 1f out, kept on
chased leader in 2nd, ridden to lead 2f out, stayed on well final furlong
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden in 3rd over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders in 4th, ridden entering straight, soon no impression
Three-year-olds have won two of the last three and LONGTON is taken to continue the sequence. John Oxx' colt was trained by Richard Fahey last season and landed a Newcastle maiden in August. He was having his first start for new connections when catching the eye on his reappearance over this track and trip and can beat more experienced rivals here. Vector Force started favourite for that latter event after a promising return to action but couldn't quite hold off Muscle Beach and the selection can improve past him. He's No Saint scored at Meydan in February but has run moderately in two Listed contests recently while Strait Of Zanzibar is running well and came up against a very progressive winner at Killarney. He'd earlier finished a long way in front of Barack at Bellewstown and looks a threat but Captain Cullen reserves his best for Dundalk.
He's No Saint 20-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear and took keen hold, soon 6th, pushed along from 3f out, no impression from over 1f out, soon dropped to last, last of 7, 8l behind Giovanni Boldini (9-2) at Curragh 1m Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Strait Of Zanzibar (USA) 7-2 (9-10) Led, ridden under 3f out, pressed over 2f out and soon joined, headed 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Stay De Night (9-5) at Killarney 1m stks 0-90 gd.
Captain Cullen (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway entering straight, ridden in 4th 2f out, went 3rd on inner 1f out, soon 2nd, stayed on well final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 8, hd behind Our Manekineko (9-5) at Dundalk 1m stks 0-85 pol in Apr.
Vector Force (IRE) 10-11fav (9-7) Prominent, tracked leader in 2nd, led under 2f out, under pressure and challenged final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Muscle Beach (9-12) at Naas 1m 3yo hcp gf.
Barack (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, no impression, eased over 1f out, last of 12, 36l behind Strait Of Zanzibar (9-5) at Bellewstown 1m hcp 60-90 gd.
Longton 9-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4l behind Muscle Beach (9-12) at Naas 1m 3yo hcp gf.
