mid-division early, 11th before halfway, lost position and no impression approaching final furlong
soon tracked leaders, 3rd before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon closed, gained narrow lead inside final furlong, soon strongly pressed, stayed on well, all out
tracked leaders, dropped to 10th before halfway, soon pushed along and one pace
tracked leaders, 7th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, one pace 1f out
prominent, 4th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, one pace 1f out
prominent, 2nd before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, lost position and no impression approaching final furlong
waited with, closer in 8th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, lost position and no impression approaching final furlong
waited with, 13th before halfway, pushed along and headway under 2f out, chased leaders and kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
prominent, 6th before halfway, soon pushed along, one pace 1f out
mid-division early, 12th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon one pace
waited with, 14th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon one pace
slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along and headway under 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, stayed on well, just failed
waited with, 15th before halfway, soon pushed along, kept on same pace without threatening final furlong
tracked leaders, 5th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, one pace 1f out
soon led on far side, edged left 2f out, headed inside final furlong, soon no extra and one pace
waited with, 9th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out and headway, chased leaders and kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
A very tough opener but BLAIRMAYNE looks to have as good a chance as any. Placed four times over the course and distance last summer including a premier handicap, he returned to the track last month and held on well from just 1lb lower to beat today's rival Arcanears. Cityman is progressing nicely and won comfortably over 5f at Tipperary on Sunday but a 7lb rise makes this tougher. Tide Of Time looks a more likely threat after bouncing back to form at Navan last week though Ducky Mallon usually goes well here though only got on top close home over 7f at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks ago. Castletownshend has never won but made a promising handicap debut at Naas and has been left on the same mark. The consistent Aleef is another to consider in a wide-open handicap.
Medicine Jack 12-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, headway to 5th under 3f out, ridden in 4th 1 1/2f out, hampered under 1f out, kept on closing stages, 5th of 12, 3 1/4l behind On A Session (9-1) at Listowel 6f hcp Yielding in Jun.
Buffer Zone 7-2 (8-13) Dwelt, in rear, hanging right and wide over 3f out, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Fool For You (8-10) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Blairmayne (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Prominent, led travelling well soon after halfway, ridden over 1f out and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Curragh 6f hcp gf in May beating Arcanears (9-6) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Cityman 7-2 (8-12) Pushed along briefly early and close up, 4th approaching halfway and under pressure, progress to lead 1 1/2f out, stayed on well to assert inside final furlong, won at Tipperary 5f hcp gd in Jun beating Bailly (9-2) by 3l, 8 ran.
Aleef (IRE) 5-2jfav (9-7) Chased leader in 2nd, dropped to 3rd from halfway, pushed along from 2f out and soon ridden, no impression and kept on same pace from 1f out, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Hathiq (9-9) at Curragh 5f hcp gf in May.
Time Stands Still 5-1cfav (9-9) Raced in 4th early and a little keen, soon 3rd, pushed along straight, no extra from over 1f out, 7th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Geological (9-8) at Leopardstown 7f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Arcanears (IRE) 13-2 (9-12) Chased leader, 6th halfway, under pressure entering straight, lost place and ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 8th of 17, 5 1/2l behind Ducky Mallon (9-4) at Fairyhouse 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Castletownshend (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden from 2f out and good progress on outer to lead inside final furlong, headed inside final 150 yards and no extra close home, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Twenty Minutes (8-10) at Naas 6f hcp gd in May.
Sors (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out and not clear run inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 3l behind Hit The Silk (10-0) at Limerick 7f Yielding in Jun.
Ducky Mallon (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Chased leader, 7th halfway, travelled well entering straight, progress under 2f out, pushed along in 2nd 1 1/2f out, closed under 1f out, kept on well to lead closing stages, won at Fairyhouse 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun beating Sacchoandvanzetti (8-10) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Chestnut Express (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Slightly slow into stride and briefly pushed along from stalls, soon settled in mid-division, pushed along from 2f out and ridden over 1f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Aspen Belle (8-11) at Cork 5f hcp fll Good - Yielding in Jun.
Twenty Minutes 13-2 (9-7) Dwelt and in rear, headway on outer under 2f out and pushed along to go 3rd 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Tide Of Time (8-13) at Down Royal 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Polly Douglas (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along over 1f out, ridden and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 6th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Tide Of Time (8-13) at Down Royal 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Hammersmith (IRE) 5-1 (8-7) In touch, 5th halfway, ridden and headway to 3rd over 1f out, no impression on leader in 4th under 1f out, kept on without threatening, 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Nitro Boost (9-8) at Curragh 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Tide Of Time 9-2 (8-13) Made all, pushed along 1 1/2f out and soon asserted, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Down Royal 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun beating Twenty Minutes (9-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Master Matt 5-1 (9-2) Chased leaders in 4th, improved into 2nd on inner travelling well 2f out, pushed along in 2nd entering straight, soon ridden to chase clear leader, stayed on well inside final furlong, led close home, won at Sligo 6f gd in Jun beating Sunset Nova (9-2) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
