settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, closer 3f out, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, closer 3 1/2f out, improved into 2nd 3f out, ridden to challenge 1 1/2f out, soon led, kept on well to assert final furlong
led and disputed, led after 3f, ridden and pressed 1 1/2f out, soon headed, no extra final furlong, kept on one pace
led and disputed, headed after 3f, 3rd 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out
dwelt and towards rear, ridden into 5th 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
held up, ridden in 6th 2f out, kept on well into 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner
towards rear, trailing halfway, completely tailed off
Recent Gowran winner NEBO has the highest rating of these and this slight step up trip won’t be a problem given he won over a mile at Cork last year. A former Group 3 winner, he is the one to beat. Speak In Colours has been generally campaigned at a higher level but he’s not really been firing this year whereas Maud Gonne Spirit has been in going well lately and could make the frame with her fillies’ allowance with Geometrical looking a light of former days. The three-year-olds all look to be facing a stiff task on these terms.
Hale Bopp (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Rear of mid-division, moderate 8th halfway, under pressure 2f out, no impression, weakened under 1f out, 10th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Ides Of August (9-1) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Aug.
Geometrical (IRE) 18-1 (9-13) Disputed lead early, headed after 4f, ridden in 2nd 3f out, weakened, last of 8, 6 3/4l behind Layfayette (9-13) at Roscommon 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
Nebo (IRE) 15-2 (9-13) Made all, pushed along from 2f out and ridden over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 7f hcp gd in Aug beating Big Baby Bull (9-1) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Cool As Ever (IRE) 100-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, soon close up, 2nd approaching halfway, on terms before straight, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 17, dist behind Russian Emperor (9-7) at Naas 1m mdn Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Shandra (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders early, waited with, soon towards rear, headway behind horses straight, pushed along over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, last of 8, 8 1/4l behind Storm Legend (9-10) at Naas 7f gd in Jul.
Maud Gonne Spirit (IRE) 17-2 (9-7) In touch, effort and ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression on leader in 3rd final 150 yards, kept on to 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Affable (8-13) at Cork 7f hcp fll sft in Aug.
Basilic (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Chased winner, pushed along 4f out, soon lost 2nd, edged left and weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 15l behind Macmerry Jim (9-5) at Southwell 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Speak In Colours 9-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division towards far side, never a factor, pushed along and no impression 2f out, soon no extra, last of 19, 12 1/2l behind Major Power (8-7) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Jul.
