soon disputed lead, dropped to 6th approaching halfway, soon pushed along, one pace in moderate 5th from over 1f out
soon tracked leaders, 5th approaching halfway, soon pushed along, dropped to rear 2f out, eased from 1 1/2f out
soon raced on outer and took keen hold early, prominent, 2nd approaching halfway, soon on terms, led from 3f out, soon strongly pressed and wandered slightly, headed and dropped to 3rd 1f out, one pace
soon tracked leaders, 4th approaching halfway, pushed along 3f out, 2nd 2f out and soon challenged and on terms, every chance and kept on well final furlong, not quite match winner near line
held up in rear, travelling smoothly on outer 3f out, went 3rd 2f out, on terms 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong to edge ahead near line
soon disputed lead, pushed along from halfway, headed 3f out, dropped to 5th 2f out, moderate 6th and one pace from over 1f out
held up early, took keen hold and soon prominent, 3rd approaching halfway, soon on terms, headed and pushed along 3f out, dropped to 4th 2f out, no extra and one pace from over 1f out
Usa won this a year ago by a narrow margin from MOONBI CREEK, who is taken to gain revenge. Dermot Weld's charge rarely wins but he's competed at a higher level and should be good enough. The hurdlers He's Our Man and High Net Worth are likely to find this on the short side and Smoker, who made a winning debut as a two-year-old, has come nowhere near to fulfilling that potential. Togoville isn't without a chance as he scored over the trip at Roscommon in July.
He's Our Man (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up in rear of mid-division, ridden over 2f out and soon no extra, 12th of 17, 17l behind Hazariban (9-2) at Navan 1m 5f hcp sft in Apr.
High Net Worth 5-1 (9-7) Refused to race, in a race won by Alvar (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 3f app hcp pol in Feb, 11 ran.
Moonbi Creek (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Soon raced in 7th, pushed along before halfway, 5th 1f out and no impression, one pace, 6th of 10, 7l behind Calm Bay (9-9) at Bellewstown 5f hcp 47-70 sft in Aug.
Smoker 20-1 (9-5) Soon close up and disputed lead, 3rd 3f out, dropped behind and no extra from 2f out, 5th of 6, 40l behind News At Six (10-0) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f stks 0-80 gf in Jul.
Togoville (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Soon chased leaders on outer, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Moonmeister (8-13) at Dundalk 1m hcp 50-70 pol in Aug.
Tribal Path (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Led, ridden and headed 4f out, soon weakened quickly, last of 5, 45l behind Teoirim (9-9) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f app stks gf in Jul.
Usa (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders and 4th halfway, headway 2f out and ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held on, won at Laytown 7f amt stk in Sep '13 beating Moonbi Creek (12-0) by nk, 10 ran.
