slowly into stride and always behind, no impression from 3f out, never a factor
mid-division, progress on inner into 5th 4f out, ridden in 5th entering straight, moderate 4th 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, pushed along briefly in mid-division halfway, ridden and no impression from 3f out
mid-division, 7th 4f out, ridden entering straight, went 2nd 1 1/2f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on close home
dwelt and pushed along to lead, clear before halfway, reduced advantage 4f out, ridden and headed 3f out, kept on same pace straight
mid-division on outer, 8th 4f out, soon ridden and weakened
slowly away and reminders in last early, always behind and trailing, never a factor
chased leaders, 6th 4f out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, weakened
chased leaders, 4th 4f out, ridden entering straight, moderate 3rd over 1f out, no impression
rear of mid-division, no impression from 3f out, never a factor
mid-division, 10th 4f out, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division on outer, 13th 4f out, ridden entering straight, kept on one paced final furlong
chased leaders, 2nd 4f out, led 3f out, soon ridden, headed entering straight, no impression over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along 2 1/2f out, under pressure when checked entering straight, no impression
dwelt, towards rear, good headway on inner 3f out, ridden and led entering straight, soon clear, eased briefly inside final furlong, pushed along and stayed on well close home
mid-division on inner, ridden and weakened 5f out
mid-division, 11th on outer 4f out, soon ridden and weakened
This looks like a tough handicap but Dermot Weld has won five of the last seven and has Monocle near the foot of the weights. However, three-year-olds have a very poor record in the race and the lightly-raced grey has never raced beyond 1m4f. Grey Sky Blue looked a staying type when scoring at Fairyhouse and looks certain to be suited by this trip while there are no stamina doubts about Winter Lion, a winner over 2m1f at Bellewstown earlier this month. ARTFUL ARTIST won the lucrative Guinness Handicap at this fixture a year ago and can race here from a 9lb lower mark. He looked on the way back to form at Killarney last time and could hardly be better treated. Useful hurdler Automated is probably better than a 75-rated handicapper on the Flat and could provide the main threat.
Shamar (FR) 25-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, pushed along straight, no impression from 2f out, 9th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Ebasani (9-4) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Automated 5-2fav (9-9) Stall opened and broke for false start, towards rear, pushed along straight, kept on without threatening from 2f out, 6th of 11, 10l behind Ebasani (9-4) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Winter Lion (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Led, joined and slight mistake 3rd, narrowly headed 4th, remained prominent, slight mistake 6th, lost place 4 out, soon dropped to last, no extra 3 out and eased, last of 10, dist behind Time For Mabel (11-2) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Artful Artist (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Held up towards rear, progress under 3f out, ridden into 6th 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Xsquared (9-5) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Face Value 5-1 (8-12) Pushed along early, soon led, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 23 3/4l behind Benkei (10-0) at Bellewstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Jun.
Grey Sky Blue (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Mid-division, headway into 3rd entering straight, 2nd and pushed along 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun beating Taqaseem (9-6) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Sang Tiger (GER) 7-1 (8-12) Slow into stride and pushed along from stalls, settled towards rear and ridden in 8th 5f out, dropped to rear over 3f out and kept on well from 2f out, went never nearer 4th close home, 4th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Botany Bay (9-11) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gd in Jul.
Ard Na Carraig 16-1 (9-7) In rear, closer in moderate 8th when checked briefly 2f out, soon ridden, no impression final furlong, 6th of 11, 5l behind Multiculture (9-7) at Roscommon 1m 4f mdn hvy in Jul.
Lisa's Legacy 14-1 (11-6) Held up, progress to chase leaders but no impression 2 out, moderate 2nd from before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 20, 4l behind Magnetic Force (11-5) at Cork 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Spacious Sky (USA) 18-1 (8-8) Towards rear, under pressure in moderate 6th 3f out, soon no extra, 6th of 7, dist behind Oiche Mhaith Boy (9-0) at Sligo 1m 4f hcp hvy in May.
Head Turner (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Chased leaders in 3rd, 5th entering straight, soon pushed along, ridden over 1f out, 5th 1f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Multiculture (9-7) at Roscommon 1m 4f mdn hvy in Jul.
The Fox Tully (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Held up, pushed along straight, kept on same pace without threatening from under 2f out, 5th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Ebasani (9-4) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Black Label 5-1 (8-12) Mid-division early, soon held up towards rear, progress into 5th 4f out, close 3rd 3f out, ridden 2f out, 2nd and no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Xsquared (9-5) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Monocle 4-5fav (9-5) Ran 4th, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra from over 1f out, 4th of 5, 10 1/2l behind Arya Tara (9-0) at Tipperary 1m 4f mdn gf in May.
Water Sprite (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) 6th of 12, 5 1/2l behind Vivat Rex (12-7) at Curragh 1m 4f gd in Jul.
Duke Cass (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd from 4 out where mistake, challenged and slight mistake 3 out, soon on terms, slight mistake last, headed and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Sir Jack Yeats (11-9) at Bellewstown 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Runmhar (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th over 2f out, kept on one paced final furlong, 4th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Masonbrook Lady (9-2) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Unrequited (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Left in stalls, refused to race, at Killarney 1m 6f Yielding in Jul.
Neatly Put 10-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, progress under 3f out, ridden into 7th 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong into 3rd at line, 3rd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Xsquared (9-5) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
