towards rear, kept on without threatening under pressure from 2f out
towards rear, kept on well without threatening under pressure final furlong
tracked leaders, no extra from 2f out
soon mid-division, kept on same pace from 2f out
rear of mid-division, kept on without threatening under pressure from 2f out
soon mid-division, kept on same pace from 2f out
prominent early, no extra from 2f out
held up in rear, headway on outer to chase leaders over 1f out, led inside final furlong, wandered a bit closing stages
tracked leaders, no extra from 2f out
soon led, attempted to assert from over 2f out, reduced lead and headed inside final furlong, no extra
towards rear, ridden straight, ran on strongly final furlong, not get to winner
soon mid-division, kept on same pace from 2f out
soon mid-division, improved to chase leaders over 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong
prominent, 2nd for much, no extra and kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, 5th over 2f out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace inside final furlong
soon mid-division, kept on same pace from 2f out
chased leaders, no extra from 2f out
soon mid-division, kept on same pace from 2f out
Mick Channon won this lucrative prize in 2003 and will be hoping that lightning strikes again with GATEPOST, who will find this rather less taxing than the Group 1's he's been involved in since his two early victories. Tough As Nails is comfortably the form pick on his short-head defeat by Power at the Curragh in May but that was over 5f and he was well behind that winner over this trip in the National Stakes. Richard Hannon has a tremendous record in this and presumably Wolverhampton winner Three Am Tour is the pick of his duo with Richard Hughes booked. Raphael Santi didn't get much of a run at Naas though the weights are against him, as they are also with the promising Azamata.
Raphael Santi (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders mainly 4th, ridden 2f out, soon switched right and bumped rival, no impression and repeatedly bumped into rival inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 7l behind Lilbourne Lad (9-0) at Naas 6f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Azamata (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Soon tracked leaders, led from 2f out, headed and kept on same pace from 1f out, 2nd of 19, 3 1/2l behind Imperial Monarch (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2yo mdn sft.
Gatepost (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) last of 7, 10l behind Dabirsim (8-13) at Deauville(FR) 6f 2yo Grp 1 gd in Aug.
Battleroftheboyne (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along 2f out, ridden into 2nd 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, led close home, won at Curragh 6f 2yo hcp beating Sunrise Song (7-12) by hd, 10 ran.
Beau Amadeus (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 4th over 2f out, ridden into 3rd 1f out, 2nd inside final furlong and kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Wrote (9-4) at Galway 7f 2yo hcp gd in Aug.
Evervescent (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Tracked leading pair, ridden and outpaced 2f out, rallied entering final furlong, kept on to go 2nd, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 3, 4l behind Gold City (9-5) at Nottingham 6f 2yo nov stk (5) gf in Aug.
Rockview Diamond (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Always prominent, challenged over 1f out, led under pressure 100 yards and edged left, kept on well, won at Bellewstown 5f 2yo mdn gd in Jul beating She's My Dandy (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Seanie (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Towards rear, kept on same pace under pressure without threatening straight, 7th of 13, 8l behind Buffalo Billy (9-3) at Tipperary 7f 2yo mdn gd in Aug.
Tamam Namoose (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 6th 2f out, soon no impression, kept on one pace, 7th of 16, 9l behind Crusade (9-3) at Curragh 6f 2yo mdn gd in Aug.
Tough As Nails (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden to go moderate 6th over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 8l behind Power (9-1) at Curragh 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft.
Absolute Crackers (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Always prominent, challenged in 2nd 1 1/2f out, soon on terms, kept on same pace under pressure well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Buffalo Billy (9-3) at Tipperary 7f 2yo mdn gd in Aug.
My Solitaire (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 4l behind Bu Naaji (9-5) at Salisbury 7f hcp 0-75 2yo (5) gf in Aug.
Three Am Tour (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, challenged entering final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol beating Fa'iz (9-3) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
City Dazzler (IRE) 11-2 (8-12) Prominent, led over 3f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Silver Lime (9-3) at Ffos Las 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs.
Quick Bite (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Tracked eaders, led going well 3f out, driven and edged right inside final furlong, stayed on and held on closing stages, won at Newcastle 1m 2yo hcp (2) sft in Aug beating Mcvicar (8-2) by 1l, 7 ran.
Blue Mimosa (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, dropped to 6th over 2f out, soon no extra, 7th of 8, 9l behind Wrote (9-4) at Galway 7f 2yo hcp gd in Aug.
Chandigarh (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Made most on rail, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, driven out (hand timed), won at Folkestone 6f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs beating Karuga (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Let Your Love Flow (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Led, ridden and hard pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Red Aggressor (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Aug.
Annaluna (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Badly outpaced in rear, no progress until stayed on past beaten horses closing stages, 6th of 9, 10l behind Amadeus Wolfe Tone (9-3) at Chepstow 7f 2yo mdn (5) sft.
Camrock Star (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 6th of 10, 7l behind Darnathean (9-4) at Kempton 6f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Echo Knight (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 3l behind Le Rouge Alex (8-4) at Down Royal 7f 2yo clm gd.
