tracked leaders on inner, close 3rd 3 out, improved into 2nd entering straight, ridden in 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in
rear of mid-division, headway 4 out, went 4th 3 out, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, kept on one pace in 3rd run-in
held up in rear, fell at 5th
tracked leaders, took keen hold and went 3rd after 3rd, ridden and weakened from 3 out, remote 6th 2 out and left 5th, no impression
disputed lead, headed and mistake 4 out, ridden in 2nd after 3 out, dropped to 4th next, no impression
mid-division, in touch in 6th when blundered badly 4 out and lost touch, soon trailing, remote 5th when fell 2 out
mid-division, took keen hold, fell at 8th
disputed lead, led from 4 out, travelling well entering straight, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well run-in
in touch in rear, brought down at 8th
In terms of quality this is by far the worst race of the meeting though that won't bother Peter Maher, who won it with ALPHA MALE a year ago and has five entries. The eight-year-old looks to have been trained with another crack in mind after winning by 30l that day though he hasn't been in anything like that form subsequently. The stable also run Enniskillen, who has won once around here in 23 starts and was well beaten on the track on Tuesday though Patrick Mullins has been booked for Captain Commander, a recent winner over the point-to-point track here and probably the main threat. Tipp Away hasn't won in six starts between the flags while Tony Martin's Boubafly has shown very little.
Alpha Male (FR) 14-1 (12-0) Always towards rear, trailing halfway, no impression from 4 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Burning Ambition (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Mar.
Enniskillen (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, very slow 4th, closed up to be prominent 21st, no impression and kept on same pace from after 2 out, 5th of 17, 17 1/2l behind Blue Templar (11-7) at Punchestown 3m 1f gd in Apr.
Boubafly (FR) 5-1 (12-2) Rr of. mid div, 5th 5out, sm prog 4out, no ex frm 3out, ko bhnd, 4th of 7, 11l behind Oscar Academy (12-2) at Monksgrange 3m mdn gd in Mar.
Captain Commander (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Pr, cl 2nd 1/2way, 3l 3rd 6out, rdn & nt qckn in 5th 4out, wknd & eased aftr 3out, pu bef 2out, at Corbeagh House 3m mdn sft in Dec.
Change Your Story (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division best, ridden towards rear 3 out, soon no extra and weakened, last of 10, dist behind Burning Ambition (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Mar.
Handy Headon (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) 2nd, jmp well, kow frm 3out, ev chan bef 2out, no ex bef last, so to line, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Oscar Academy (12-2) at Monksgrange 3m mdn gd in Mar.
Tipp Away (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) Rr of mid-div, 5th 1/2way, in tch & gng well in 3l 3rd 3out, prog to 2nd bef str, nt qckn with wnr 2out, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Fleck Ivy (12-2) at Tinahely 3m mdn gs in Feb.
Flirting Lesa (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-div, rdn along after 4out, sn no extra, pu 2out, at Boulta 3m sft in Dec.
Puff Of Smoke (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tr ldrs early, reminders and under pressure from 6out, sn behind, pu 5out, at Stradbally 3m mdn gd in Apr.
Belocima (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Tr ldrs, 5th 1/2way, mstk 6out, sn rdn, bhnd when pu 3out, at Ballyragget 3m mdn in Mar.
