mid-division early, towards rear halfway, ridden to close towards centre 2 1/2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out
held up towards rear, came towards outer straight, closer in 4th 2f out, ridden and no extra over 1f out
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, came centre straight, ridden and no extra under 2f out
mid-division, 5th halfway, came centre straight, ridden and lost place 2f out, kept on again inside final furlong
held up, ran freely early, came towards outer straight, progress into 5th 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong
led, ran freely early, joined after 3f, headed after 4f, 2nd halfway, came centre straight, ridden in 3rd 2f out, no impression over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, came centre straight, ridden in 5th 2f out, under pressure in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, progress on rail 3f out, ridden in 2nd 2f out, kept on final furlong to press winner close home
tracked leader, ran freely early, disputed after 3f, led after 4f, stayed on rail straight, ridden 2f out, 3-length advantage 1f out, kept on final furlong, pressed close home and all out
held up, mid-division halfway, ridden towards outer 2f out, no extra over 1f out
This should prove a more suitable trip for BLUES EMPEROR (NAP), whose three runs over a mile culminated in a maiden victory at Listowel. He can make a successful handicap debut though Smooth Tom is also progressing and had no problems landing a Curragh maiden over this trip having just been touched off over shorter at Galway when subsequent winner Mister Wilson was behind. Dark Vega had been going well over this sort of trip before finding 1m4f too far at Thurles and though Allihies hasn't won since his debut a year ago he's now dropped to a winning mark.
Ruler Legend (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Prominent, ran freely, led after 1f, pushed along and headed entering straight, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 11, 21 1/2l behind Flying Scotsman (8-7) at Listowel 1m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
Dark Vega (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Mid-division, 7th halfway, pushed along and edged right 2f out, ridden and no impression in 6th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Raving Royal (8-12) at Thurles 1m 4f hcp sft in Oct.
Inchturk (IRE) 13-2 (9-2) Prominent on outer, improved to 2nd after 1 1/2f, 2nd to clear leader halfway, pushed along and took closer order 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, 13th of 14, 10 1/2l behind Saltonstall (9-12) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Mister Wilson (IRE) 11-2jfav (9-1) Tracked leader, 3rd behind clear leader halfway, took closer order 2f out, improved to lead narrowly over 1f out, soon ridden, headed final 100 yards, kept on, not match winner, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Saltonstall (9-12) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Vina Sena (IRE) 80-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden and no impression 2 1/2f out, soon no extra, last of 10, 5 1/2l behind Bear Story (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 3f lst stks (1) pol in Sep.
Blues Emperor (IRE) 13-8 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 5th entering straight, pushed along in 3rd over 1f out, ridden in 2nd on inner under 1f out, soon challenged, led final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Listowel 1m mdn sft in Sep beating Boher Road (9-8) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Smooth Tom (IRE) 11-8fav (9-8) Settled behind leaders, ridden in 6th 3f out, stayed on into 2nd 1 1/2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Curragh 1m 2f mdn gd in Aug beating Astelia (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Allihies (IRE) 11-2jfav (8-10) In touch, 5th halfway, progress on inner 1 1/2f out, closed and ridden over 1f out, dropped to 4th and no impression closing stages, 4th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Saltonstall (9-12) at Tipperary 1m 1f hcp sft in Oct.
Bridge Of Dawn (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden in 2nd entering straight, 3rd 2f out, weakened, 8th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Cornman (9-5) at Gowran Park 7f mdn gd in Sep.
Arch Enemy (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, went 2nd 3 out, no impression when not fluent next, soon ridden in 3rd, no extra in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 16, 12l behind Cougar (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Oct.
