held up, 7th at 6th, closed to chase leaders approaching straight, no impression in 3rd at last, one pace
led, jumped slightly right, joined briefly from 6th, soon led again, ridden 3 out, joined next, led and stayed on best run-in
soon tracked leaders, 4th at 6th, ridden straight, 3rd 2 out, no extra and jumped right at last, one pace
tracked leaders, slight mistake 6th and dropped to 8th, pushed along 7th, soon no danger
prominent, on terms briefly from 6th, soon headed, pushed along 4 out, soon lost place and no impression, no extra and jumped right last 2
in rear, pushed along at stages, pushed along again 7th, soon no danger
soon tracked leaders, 3rd at 6th, closed up from before 3 out, challenged and on terms 2 out, headed and kept on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 5th at 6th, slight mistake 3 out, no impression approaching straight, soon no extra
Usa produced a fine run when narrowly beaten by the former top-class Real Mor at Ballinrobe in August but his proximity to the winner, who was rated 14lb higher, has ruined his handicap mark and though Donagh Meyler's claim will be a big help he still has to carry a mammoth weight. CASIMIR ROAD produced a good effort when runner-up over this course and distance in July. He doesn't win very often but won't get many better chances than this. By The Banks has been racing over timber and generally going well but he's reverting to fences on a higher mark so may find this tough. Hard Bought has won four times over timber but has shown little over fences to date, though he did start a very short-priced favourite when beaten a long way at Thurles in January.
Usa (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Slightly slow away from stalls and went right, soon improved into 4th, pushed along in 3rd under 3f out, ridden from 2f out and no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 9, 9 1/2l behind Room Key (12-0) at Laytown 7f pol in Sep.
By The Banks (IRE) 10-3fav (11-9) Soon led, slight mistake 7th, bad mistake 2 out and headed, no extra and slight mistake last, one pace, 5th of 14, 13 1/2l behind Lasoscar (11-6) at Roscommon 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Samanntom (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, closer order 7th, ridden straight, kept on same pace from before last, 6th of 10, 5 3/4l behind Rockshandy (10-11) at Listowel 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Bellgrove (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, mistake 3 out, ridden before 2 out where dropped to 4th, weakened, 8th of 12, 26 1/4l behind Old Castletown (11-4) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp gd in Aug.
Casimir Road (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, pushed along in rear and slight mistake 8th, detached next, weakened, completely tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind King's Wharf (10-12) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
Notimetoserve (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, ridden into 8th 3 out, no extra before straight, 9th of 14, dist behind Dark Outsider (10-3) at Clonmel 2m 2f hcp gd in Sep.
Blue Templar (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Towards rear, bad mistake 3rd, no impression from 4 out, soon no extra, 8th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Rockshandy (10-11) at Listowel 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Hard Bought (IRE) 11-10fav (10-5) Chased leaders, disputed 2nd halfway, dropped to 5th 6 out, 6th next, slightly hampered 4 out, no impression when mistake 3 out, no extra entering straight, weakened and slight mistake 2 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Mr Eko (11-6) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp hvy in Jan.
Dont Stop (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up early, soon improved to chased leader, 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 2 out, soon ridden in 3rd, no impression and slight mistake last, kept on one pace and dropped to 4th run-in, 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Bashful Beauty (11-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 3f sft in Sep.
