held up 4th, 5th halfway, pushed along over 3f out, ridden into 4th over 2f out, no impression, kept on one pace final furlong
prominent, soon led, 4 lengths clear halfway, ridden under 2f out, reduced advantage over 1f out, kept on well
soon settled 3rd, improved to 2nd halfway, ridden to close on leader 1 1/2f out, no impression final furlong, kept on same pace
raced 5th, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, 3rd over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression, kept on same pace 1f out
prominent, soon tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 4th over 2f out, no impression, ridden in 5th over 2f out, weakened
rear, 7th halfway, soon pushed along, no headway, eased under 2f out
very slowly into stride, raced in rear, 6th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, no headway, never a factor
Brendan Brackan won this last year when SRUTHAN finished last but the latter had his revenge in a similar grade contest at the Curragh in June for which he carries a 3lb penalty. Paul Deegan's charge has continued to run well in better races than this and can see off his old rival and also the younger brigade. Three-year-olds have a fair overall record in the event and Black Hawk War will come in for support after his two victories at Limerick though he hasn't beaten much to date and will need major improvement. Tipstaff looked very progressive at Navan though he's another with much more to find and Kalisma was a disappointment at Galway in September though that was her first start since a winning debut a year earlier.
Sruthan (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, pushed along and no impression approaching straight, moderate 6th 1f out, kept on one pace to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 10, 7 3/4l behind Jet Setting (9-7) at Tipperary 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Brendan Brackan (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Mid-division on inner, 7th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out and no impression in 4th over 1f out, edged left under pressure 150 yards out, kept on, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Rose De Pierre (8-11) at Cork 1m lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Aug.
Black Hawk War (USA) 11-10 (9-9) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden 1 1/2f out, challenged over 1f out, narrow lead last 200 yards, asserted closing stages, won at Limerick 7f sft in Oct beating Sharliyna (9-4) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Tipstaff Evensfav (9-5) Tracked leaders, headway towards outer straight, on terms 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on well, won at Navan 1m 2f mdn Good - Yielding in Oct beating Chocolat Noir (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
Just Joan (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3f, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 9th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Champagne Or Water (9-4) at Listowel 1m 1f lst stks (1) hvy in Sep.
Kalisma (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, 8th 5f out, driven in 7th over 2f out, no extra, never a factor, 7th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Massayan (9-9) at Gowran Park 1m 1f sft in Sep.
Sas (IRE) (8-7) 10th of 16, 5 1/2l behind Ella Diva (9-4) at Deauville 7f hcp gd in Aug.
Highly Toxic (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, led after 3 1/2f, headed entering straight, dropped to 4th over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Massayan (9-9) at Gowran Park 1m 1f sft in Sep.
