close up early, chased leader from 2nd, slight mistake 4th, 2nd halfway, 3rd and mistake 5 out, soon lost place, ridden in 7th after 4 out, soon no extra and weakened
soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 8th, ridden in 5th before 3 out, soon no impression
led, slight mistake 8th and joined, narrow lead 3 out, ridden and pressed before 2 out, joined approaching last, headed run-in and held in 3rd closing stages
held up in mid-division, ridden in moderate 6th before 3 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace
mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened
close up early, chased leaders from 2nd, slight mistake 2nd, 3rd halfway, disputed from 8th, slight mistake 4 out, headed 3 out, soon ridden, no extra entering straight, weakened
soon settled mid-division, progress into 4th 4 out, close up approaching 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, ridden to challenge entering straight, under pressure in 2nd after 2 out, stayed on to dispute approaching last, headed run-in, held in 2nd close home
always towards rear, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, mistake 8th, 3rd 4 out, close up approaching next, ridden in 4th after 3 out, under pressure in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to challenge last, led run-in and kept on well close home
held up, mid-division best, ridden and no extra 4 out, weakened
always towards rear, slight mistake 7th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
Santana Plessis won a bumper at Kilbeggan when last in action in July and is preferred to stablemate Hell On Earth on his hurdling debut. The latter was well beaten at Punchestown recently when SHANWALLA finished clear of the rest in third and Paul Gilligan’s bumper winner looks up to scoring at this level on the evidence of his hurdling form. Royal Thief ran well at Naas on his earlier hurdling bow and is another to consider while Four Country Roads will be sharper for an outing in a bumper at Cork on his reappearance.
Ballymacaw (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Prominent and disputed early, chased leaders from 5th, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th after 4 out, no extra next, 5th of 11, dist behind Rocket Lad (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Oct.
Santana Plessis (FR) 8-13fav (12-0) Waited with towards rear early, a little keen and soon tracked leaders, 2nd from 3f out, challenged over 1f out, soon on terms, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kilbeggan 2m 4f Yielding in Jul beating Tudors Glory (11-7) by 3 3/4l, 10 ran.
Shanwalla (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Disputed lead, led from 4th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed entering straight, dropped to 3rd before last, kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 17, 5 3/4l behind Sixshooter (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Oct.
Amerijano (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake and fell at 1st, at Galway 2m mdn sft in Oct.
Four Country Roads (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along before straight, soon effort on inner, switched left over 2f out and bumped, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind The Little Yank (11-10) at Cork 2m 3f Yielding in Oct.
Hell On Earth (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Mid-division, slight mistake at 2nd, headway 3 out, went 3rd and ridden 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, moderate 5th and mistake at last, 5th of 17, 31 3/4l behind Sixshooter (11-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn Good - Yielding in Oct.
Oscar Montel (IRE) 15-2 (12-0) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along and no impression in 4th 3f out, ridden and no extra from 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 18 1/4l behind Tecumseh Sherman (12-0) at Downpatrick 2m 2f Good - Yielding in Sep.
Pivotal Pursuit 100-1 (11-4) Waited with, 10th from 2nd, slight mistake 6th, soon raced in 9th, no impression approaching straight, 8th of 18, dist behind The Big Galloper (11-4) at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn hvy in Sep.
Royal Thief (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th 4f out, ridden in 6th over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 17, 12 1/2l behind Longhouse Poet (12-0) at Punchestown 2m 2f Good - Yielding in May.
Ruler Of Dubai (IRE) 100-1 (11-12) Held up, some progress into moderate 8th after 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, 6th of 18, dist behind Notice To Close (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f mdn sft in Oct.
Silver Sedge (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and no impression in rear approaching straight, ridden over 1f out and kept on one pace inside final furlong, never a factor, 7th of 11, 12 1/4l behind The Bosses Oscar (11-10) at Thurles 2m Good - Yielding in Oct.
