prominent, soon 4th, tight for room and lost place at about halfway, 7th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, soon 10th, switched right 2f out, 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
in rear, ridden towards outer 2f out, soon no impression, kept on without threatening final furlong
chased leaders, soon 9th, headway travelling smoothly from 3f out, led over 1 1/2f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong
soon led, headed over 1 1/2f out, 6th 1f out, no impression
held up, soon 13th, switched right under 3f out, 10th 1f out, one pace
prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along over 2f out, 9th 1f out, no impression
mid-division, soon 12th, no extra and eased from over 1f out
held up, soon 14th, stumbled inside first 3f, behind and eased straight, completely tailed off
led early, tracked leaders, soon 6th, ridden to challenge over 2f out, 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, soon 5th, no extra and eased 1 1/2f out
prominent, 2nd early, lost place and no extra from 2f out, soon eased
towards rear, 15th early, raced on outer straight, 8th 1f out, one pace
tracked leaders, soon 8th, one pace from under 2f out
mid-division, soon 11th, raced towards outer straight and headway, 4th 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders, soon 7th, ridden to close on inner from 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Favourites have a surprisingly good record in this tough handicap but finding a market leader, never mind a winner, isn't easy. Beau Satchel has been running really well without winning for some time but remains 9lb higher than his last winning mark though Pat Smullen's presence is a bonus. Oor Jock is a consistent performer who can go well from the bottom of the weights, especially if there's some rain, and Strait Of Zanzibar is usually thereabouts from this sort of mark. TRINITY FORCE has much more scope than most of these rivals. Ger Lyons' charge was having only his fourth start when reappearing at the Curragh in April and couldn't quite get there but the runner-up has won twice subsequently so, with further progress likely, he can take this. Captain Cullen has been staying on strongly in sprints and is only 1lb higher than his last victory at the Curragh in August.
Balmont Mast (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, last of 4, 2 1/2l behind Bubbly Bellini (9-12) at Cork 5f stks in May.
Texas Rock (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Dwelt and in rear, short of room and switched right 2f out, pushed along and switched left 1 1/2f out, not hard ridden final furlong, 14th of 19, 8l behind Hasanour (9-2) at Curragh 1m hcp in May.
Trinity Force (IRE) 10-3 (9-4) Tracked leaders, 4th early, 3rd approaching straight, pushed along under 3f out, 2nd 1 1/2f out and ridden, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Hi Emperor (8-9) at Cork 7f hcp gf in Apr.
Vitally Important (IRE) 3-1fav (9-5) Edged slightly left out of stalls, soon tracked leaders and a little keen, pushed along over 2f out, 5th 1f out, no extra, 9th of 11, 6l behind Bold Thady Quill (10-0) at Naas 1m hcp 60-100 in Apr.
Fastidious 20-1 (9-0) Dwelt, held up, 8th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, switched right to outer 1 1/2f out, still 8th 1f out, one pace, 10th of 11, 7l behind Master Speaker (9-3) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in May.
Captain Cullen (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Uneasy in stalls, held up, 10th halfway, short of room from 2f out, switched left over 1f out where 10th, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Master Speaker (9-3) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in May.
Wexford Opera (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 5th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 8l behind Strait Of Zanzibar (9-7) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Grey Danube (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Led, strongly pressed under 2f out and headed 1f out, under pressure and kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Paene Magnus (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 4yo stk pol in Mar.
Stars So Bright (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Dwelt, towards rear, 11th approaching straight where raced towards outer, last 1f out and no extra, last of 14, 19l behind Pelerin (9-0) at Dundalk 1m flls lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
Strait Of Zanzibar (USA) 4-1 (10-0) Broke well, prominent and disputed lead, led 2f out and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed over 100 yards out, no extra, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Salariaq (9-3) at Limerick 1m hcp gd in Apr.
Abushamah (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Led and disputed, led from 3f out, ridden clear 2f out, reduced advantage inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Listowel 7f 3yo hcp gd in Sep beating Helen's Armada (8-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Local Flier 25-1 (9-6) Led briefly early, soon raced in 2nd, 3rd before straight, under pressure from 2f out, no impression 1f out, no extra and eased inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 18l behind Lean And Keen (10-0) at Leopardstown 7f hcp hvy in May.
Beau Satchel 14-1 (8-4) Mid-division, 10th 3f out, soon ridden, 7th 1f out, stayed on well without threatening winner final furlong to go 2nd near line, 2nd of 19, 1l behind Hasanour (9-2) at Curragh 1m hcp in May.
Mr Good Guy (IRE) 20-1 (8-3) Held up, 9th halfway, switched right over 2f out, slightly impeded over 1f out where 7th, one pace, 8th of 11, 6l behind Master Speaker (9-3) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in May.
Reckless Lad (IRE) 2-1fav (9-9) Mid-division, ridden in 5th entering straight, soon no impression, 7th of 8, 5l behind Iron Major (9-1) at Dundalk 7f hcp 47-75 pol in Apr.
Oor Jock (IRE) 9-4fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd 2f out, ridden and no impression in 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 12l behind Lily's Prince (9-7) at Cork 6f hcp in May.
