held up, 4th halfway, headway in 3rd 2 out, travelled well in 2nd entering straight, ridden after last, no impression winner, kept on same pace
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out where mistake in 4th, soon no extra
led, headed 4 out, ridden in 2nd before 2 out, no extra in 3rd entering straight, kept on same pace
chased leader in 2nd, led 4 out, ridden and kept on well from before last
held up in rear, pushed along 3 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, no impression and kept on same pace
A tight little handicap where none can be ruled out including Via Del Corso, who has won on the Flat recently. Top Madam had looked a really smart prospect when beating Letherbelucky at Down Royal but didn't run so well at Killarney next time while Protaras has found 2m4f stretching his stamina on his two latest starts after scoring over this trip at Navan. Dara Tango had been making steady progress before scoring at Killarney in May and though not running so well on the Flat since he should carry his big weight with distinction though LANDERO looks the one to be on. A winner on the Flat in Germany, he's taken to hurdling very well and, after a cracking run at Cork in May scored at Down Royal the following month. He looks the form pick though the one proviso is that the ground doesn't become more testing.
Dara Tango (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Settled off the leaders in 7th, 5th and progress approaching straight, 4th 3 out, challenged from before last, stayed on well run-in to lead closing stages, won at Killarney 2m 1f mdn hdl gd in May beating Captain Ocana (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Landero 9-4 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, 4th 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon led, kept on well from before last, won at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl gf in Jun beating Dr Moloney (11-4) by 3l, 10 ran.
Protaras (USA) 16-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, no extra from 2 out, 7th of 10, 30l behind Tugboat (11-0) at Galway 2m 4f nh nov hdl sft.
Top Madam (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Led, headed 5th, regained lead after 4 out, ridden before next, headed 2 out, dropped to 3rd and no impression from before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Run With The Wind (11-9) at Killarney 2m 1f nh nov hdl in Jul.
Via Del Corso 5-2fav (10-12) Led, headed after 3rd, dropped to 4th 3 out, 3rd 2 out, ridden and no extra after 2 out, last of 6, 15l behind Miradane (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m hcp hdl 80-109 hvy in Jul.
