tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and dropped to rear after 3 out, no threat in straight, kept on one pace
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, progress in 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, led run-in and kept on well under pressure to assert closing stages
led, pushed along 2 out, strongly pressed and not fluent last, under pressure and soon headed, no impression on winner closing stages
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 4th entering straight, slight mistake 2 out, no extra
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress in 3rd entering straight, ridden and no impression after 2 out, kept on one pace run-in
THOMAS EDISON, who won the Galway Hurdle last year, might have staged a repeat but for falling at the last, leaving the way clear for his stablemate Quick Jack. He's taken to gain compensation though another stablemate, Ted Veale, wasn't beaten far in the big hurdle race at the Festival and has since won well on the Flat. Thousand Stars has been a wonderful servant though he was beaten over 13 lengths at Galway and ran poorly when sent to Italy for a Grade 1 at Merano last weekend, though that was clearly not his form. Plinth was even further behind at Galway but is the youngest in the line-up by far and has the potential to do better.
Thousand Stars (FR) (10-7) last of 7, dist behind Fafintadenient (10-7) at Merano 2m 1f (1) gd in Sep.
Plinth (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Soon chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 3rd and no impression before straight, kept on one pace straight, 4th from last, 4th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Buster Dan Dan (10-6) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp sft in Sep.
Fethard Player (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, short of room briefly after 3rd, headway under pressure straight, kept on same pace from before last, 8th of 25, 7 1/4l behind Some Article (10-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Kalann (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Pallasator (9-3) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Thomas Edison (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, closer in 8th halfway, slight mistake 5th, progress into 5th on inner 2 out, ridden into 3rd entering straight, joined leader last when fell, at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Usa (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, progress on outer 2 out, 3rd after 2 out, ridden in 2nd before straight, no extra in 3rd before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 7 1/4l behind Morga (11-11) at Ballinrobe 2m hcp sft in Sep.
Ted Veale (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th 2 1/2f out, stayed on into 2nd 1 1/2f out, challenged 1f out, disputed inside final furlong and edged ahead close home, won at Listowel 1m 6f sft in Sep beating Sea Pride (10-13) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
