tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and no impression when hampered under 2f out, no extra
tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hold, pushed along and no impression on winner under 2f out, edged right briefly, no extra and dropped to 3rd final furlong
tracked leaders mainly 4th, ridden along in 3rd 2f out, soon no chance with winner, kept on one pace
raced mainly 5th, no extra from over 2f out
held up in rear, headway on outer from 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on but no chance with winner
made all, stretched clear travelling best from 2f out, kept on well, comfortably
SALUTE HIM won this last year and looks to have every chance again on today's terms. Zaralabad and Fantasy King are closely matched at the weights but the latter has more scope for improvement, while Born To Excel won at Gowran last season but was way below his best in a couple of starts in April. Recent hurdles winner Table Forty Six scored at Ballinrobe last summer and Bluebell Rock looks up against it.
Born To Excel 14-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, 5th on outer halfway, no extra from early straight, weakened, last of 14, 31l behind Castle Bar Sling (9-5) at Cork 1m 2f hcp gd in Apr.
Salute Him (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, ridden in 8th 2f out, stayed on into moderate 5th 1f out, no impression, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 5l behind Banksters Bonus (8-9) at Down Royal 1m 5f hcp in Jun.
Zaralabad (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up off slow gallop early, closed to track leaders from over 4f out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from under 2f out, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Natural High (10-11) at Limerick 2m stks gd in Jun.
Bluebell Rock (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Towards rear for most, never a factor, 13th of 15, well behind Pittoni (9-4) at Tipperary 1m 6f stks sft in Apr.
Fantasy King 14-1 (10-11) Held up off slow gallop early, closed from before straight, chased winner from 2f out, soon every chance, kept on without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Natural High (10-11) at Limerick 2m stks gd in Jun.
Table Forty Six (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Rear of mid-division, ridden in 5th over 2f out, 4th and no impression 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Dunne Grand (11-6) at Laytown 7f amt stk in Sep.
