prominent and tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along and dropped to 4th before 2 out, soon weakened
made virtually all, pressed approaching last, kept on well to draw clear run-in
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last where not fluent, soon no impression early run-in
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along after 3 out, no extra approaching straight
always behind, trailing before 3 out, completely tailed off
settled in 5th, 3rd before 2 out, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace
always towards rear, no threat from 3 out
EXPERIMENTALIST was beaten out of sight behind The Gondolier on his debut for Gordon Elliott at Thurles but made dramatic progress to be just half-a-length behind Blue Cannon at Down Royal. He can turn the tables on both those rivals here and take this. The front-running One Cool Shabra came home virtually alone in a huge field at Listowel before just touched off by Burrenbridge Lodge at Gowran. He looks certain to make this a stiff test and holds Whatever It Takes on their run at Galway in August.
Blue Cannon (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway to join issue 3 out, led narrowly next, strongly pressed last, kept on best under pressure run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 3yo mdn hdl sft beating Experimentalist (10-9) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
One Cool Shabra (IRE) 9-4fav (10-7) Soon led, joined from 3 out, narrow leader again from before next, attempted to assert approaching last, soon strongly pressed, kept on well run-in, headed on line, 2nd of 16, hd behind Burrenbridge Lodge (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 3yo hdl sft in Oct.
Thegondolier (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before 2 out, 4th of 11, 11l behind Sam Bass (11-0) at Cork 2m 3yo hdl sft.
Whatever It Takes (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, chased leaders and niggled along before straight, soon no impression, 7th of 11, 21l behind Sam Bass (11-0) at Cork 2m 3yo hdl sft.
Cash Or Casualty (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 13th of 16, 43l behind Leroy Parker (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 3yo mdn hdl sft.
Experimentalist 33-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 5th 2 out, progress to dispute when mistake last, kept on under pressure run-in, not quite match winner, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Blue Cannon (10-12) at Down Royal 2m 3yo mdn hdl sft.
Raydari (FR) 10-1 (9-1) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden in 10th entering straight, no extra, 14th of 18, 33l behind Sun Disc (8-13) at Curragh 1m 2f app hcp 50-70 hvy in Sep (flat).