chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, ridden in 5th 3 out, no extra before straight
chased leaders, moderate 2nd halfway, 3rd 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, kept on same pace
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, progress into 3rd 4 out, moderate 2nd 3 out, ridden and no impression on winner before 2 out, kept on same pace
soon settled behind leaders, moderate 6th halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out
settled behind leaders, moderate 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 3 out
made all, clear from 2nd, extended advantage 4 out, kept on strongly straight, not extended
held up, 7th halfway, progress into moderate 4th 3 out, ridden and no impression before straight, kept on same pace
always towards rear, ridden and no extra 3 out, weakened and tailed off
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, no impression before straight, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, ridden into moderate 5th before straight, kept on same pace from before last, 3rd close home
Willie Mullins has sent out the last two winners of this and has a strong hand once again with IVAN GROZNY and Sempre Medici preferred to stablemate Thousand Stars. Sempre Medici has every chance if back to the level that saw him win Graded races earlier this year but Ruby Walsh rides the selection, who won at Aintree in April and had a spin on the Flat at Ascot last month. The Tullow Tank is not out of this either but has his first start for over a year. He’s been chasing but is a high-class hurdler on his day while Moon Over Germany has some decent form in novice hurdles and the four-year-old Rashaan was ahead of Tocororo when placed in a Grade 2 juvenile contest at Fairyhouse in March.
Thousand Stars (FR) (10-10) 7th of 12, 17 3/4l behind Ptit Zig (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 1f sft in Jun.
Plinth (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Settled 3rd, dropped to 5th before 2 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders in 4th approaching straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 9 1/2l behind Supreme Vinnie (9-10) at Kilbeggan 2m 3f hcp gd in Jun.
Sempre Medici (FR) 8-1 (9-1) Held up, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 20, 28 3/4l behind Jennies Jewel (9-3) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp stks (2) sft in Jun.
Lilshane (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Soon raced in 3rd, slight mistake 2 out, no impression and wandered slightly run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 9 1/2l behind Winter Lion (10-3) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Rashaan (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Chased clear leader, 4th halfway, closer 3 out, 2nd and not fluent next, no impression on easy winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Slowmotion (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Ivan Grozny (FR) 10-1 (9-6) Towards rear, outpaced when not much room on outer over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer, 9th of 19, 9 3/4l behind Kinema (9-4) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gs in Jun.
Moon Over Germany (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up, 8th halfway, progress into 5th entering straight, ridden in close 4th on rail before last, under pressure in 5th last, no extra and kept on one pace run-in, 6th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Woodland Opera (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Mr Picotee (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leader, disputed from 2nd, led after 6th, disputed again before 3 out, 2nd entering straight, 1-length down and still every chance when fell 2 out, at Listowel 2m 1f sft in Sep.
The Tullow Tank (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, mistake 6 out, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 6th 3 out, stayed on in 4th last, ran on strongly run-in and pressed winner close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Gilgamboa (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Tocororo (IRE) 3-1 (10-10) Held up, 4th from 3rd, progress into 3rd before 6th, closer 4 out and slight mistake, ridden to challenge 3 out, under pressure in 3rd before next, kept on same pace, slight mistake last, 3rd of 5, 5 1/4l behind Listen Dear (11-7) at Down Royal 2m gd in Jun.
Queen Alphabet (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to lead after 4f, pushed along over 2f out and soon went a few lengths clear, ridden over 1f out and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Ballinrobe 1m 5f hcp fll Yielding in Jun beating Little Stampy (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
