tracked leader, 2nd to clear leader at 5th, closer at 7th, headway to challenge at last, led run-in, kept on best under pressure
towards rear, 6th after 7th, good headway to close before last, kept on run-in, held in 3rd
mid-division, 4th after 7th, no impression on principals before last where not fluent, kept on same pace
towards rear, 8th at 6th where mistake and fell
prominent, 3rd to clear leader before 3rd, closer after 7th, not fluent 2 out (normal 3 out), headway to lead approaching straight, strongly pressed at last, soon headed, ridden and kept on, held
rear of mid-division, mistake at 4th and dropped towards rear, 9th at 6th where hampered, soon detached, pulled up before 5 out
towards rear, not fluent at 1st and raced in rear, 7th after 7th, no extra before last
led, asserted before 3rd, not fluent at 5th, reduced advantage at 7th, under pressure and headed approaching straight, soon weakened
close up, rear of mid-division after 2nd, 5th after 7th, no impression before last, kept on one pace
Oighear Dubh won a handicap at Tipperary last month but official ratings suggest he has a lot to find at the weights with fellow previous winners MATIN D’ANJOU (NAP) and Venezia. Of that pair, the former is preferred as the form of his Wexford success has been franked and he ran well for a long way over hurdles at Galway 11 days ago. The headgear is back on Cesar Du Gouet, who has been showing promise in maiden hurdles, while Gordon Elliott runs both the returning Bettatogether and Dawerann with the latter preferred. Henry De Bromhead is also double handed but Magna Cartor looks more of a threat as he wasn’t far behind Venezia at Clonmel in June.
Matin D'Anjou (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Soon led, slightly impeded by loose horse approaching 2 out, headed approaching straight, no extra and kept on same pace from last, 5th of 20, 8 3/4l behind Castlehume (10-13) at Galway 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Oighear Dubh (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division early, 10th at 7th, closed 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon on terms, gained narrow lead and stayed on best closing stages, won at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul beating Black Jewel (10-12) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Venezia (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 17th of 20, dist behind Black Key (11-8) at Galway 2m 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Bettatogether 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, 8th when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no extra approaching last, 10th of 11, 27 1/4l behind Battling Spirit (11-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Feb.
Cesar Du Gouet (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Led and disputed, slight mistake 4th, headed 2 out, ridden in 4th before last, no extra and kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Thecraicisninety (11-4) at Ballinrobe 2m 2f mdn gd in Jul.
Dawerann (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon recovered to chase leader, challenged over 9f out, ridden over 3f out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Kuiper Belt (9-6) at Ayr 1m 7f hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Magna Cartor 14-1 (9-7) Chased leaders on inner, 2nd 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, 16th of 19, dist behind Great Trango (9-9) at Galway 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Aug.
Special Diamond 4-1 (11-7) Prominent and soon 2nd, slightly slow 5 out, slow jump 3 out and lost place, soon weakened and pulled up, at Tipperary 2m 1f gd in Jul.
The Brassmoulder (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, fell 2nd, at Clonmel 2m gd in Jun.
