raced in share of 2nd early, left in lead after 1st, a few lengths clear and ridden after last, strongly pressed inside final 50 yards, just held on
led, fell 1st
raced in rear, slightly hampered 1st, went 3rd after 3rd, pushed along after 2 out and no impression from before last
4th early, slightly hampered 1st and left in 3rd, dropped to rear after 3rd, close in 4th when bad mistake and fell after 2 out
raced in share of 2nd early, slightly hampered 1st and soon settled in 2nd, not fluent 5th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden in pursuit of leader after last, kept on well closing stages, just failed
Four-year-olds have won two of the last three and VERCINGETORIX should keep up the sequence. Gordon Elliott's charge was probably a bit unlucky when beaten by Neverushacon at Gowran and his overall form entitles him to the vote. The other youngster in the race, Dai Bando, was around three lengths back in that latter event and looks held while Theatre Mill is probably better over fences these days while The Bosses Cousin hasn't run over hurdles since Cheltenham 2012. Rae's Creek looked a nice prospect when completing a double on the Flat and over hurdles at Ballinrobe early last summer but hasn't run since being pulled up lame at Listowel in September.
Rae's Creek 8-11fav (11-1) Led, hit 4th, slight mistake 3 out, headed approaching straight, soon no extra and eased, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lean And Keen (11-1) at Listowel 2m nh nov hdl gd in Sep, 5 ran.
The Bosses Cousin (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Settled towards rear, 7th with a circuit to race, not fluent in 6th 4 out and ridden from next, left in moderate 4th 2 out, 4th of 8, 27l behind Fort Smith (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 7f beg chase gd in Jun.
Theatre Mill (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Held up in 5th, 4th 5 out, 3rd after 3 out, ridden entering straight, no impression 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Beckwith Star (11-1) at Wexford 2m hcp chs 0-123 gd in Jun.
Dai Bando (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold early, 5th from 3rd, closed up 3 out, challenged and pecked 2 out, close 2nd at last and edged right and slightly impeded, soon dropped to 3rd and one pace, 3rd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Neverushacon (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl gd in Jun.
Vercingetorix (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, on terms from 4th, headed before 3 out, soon pushed along on inner, squeezed for room before straight, switched left after 2 out, 2nd and kept on without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Neverushacon (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl gd in Jun.
