raced 2nd, led before 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed at last, headed inside final furlong, no extra
led, slight mistake 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, 4th after 3 out, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, no extra in 4th straight
held up in last, not fluent 4 out, ridden in 5th after 2 out, headway into 2nd at last, kept on well to lead inside final furlong
held up in touch, ridden and no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders, 3rd after 3 out, ridden in 2nd before last, no extra in 3rd from last, kept on same pace
Jessica Harrington has won this twice in the past four years but Greenbelt Star will need to jump much better than he did when only fourth behind Raggletagglegypsy at Killarney. The winner is very much on the upgrade and overcame a couple of tardy jumps to score comfortably that day. Like the other dual hurdles winner in the field, London Bridge, he has a double penalty and the latter looked very progressive when cantering home from Makhaaleb at Downpatrick. The improving Sixteen Forty Two was due to run here last night but whatever his fate there he may still have too much to do against SUBLIME TALENT, successful from subsequent bumper winner Laganbank at Ballinrobe and another off the Dermot Weld production line.
London Bridge 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, headway travelling best to lead bypassing 2 out, kept on well run-in, easily, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl gd beating Makhaaleb (11-7) by 12l, 8 ran.
Raggletagglegypsy (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, challenged and on terms 3 out, soon led, not fluent 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Killarney 2m 1f nh nov hdl gd beating House Rules (11-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
Greenbelt Star 11-8fav (11-12) Prominent, on terms 4 out, led approaching straight, joined 3 out, soon headed and no extra, 4th of 6, 15l behind Raggletagglegypsy (11-12) at Killarney 2m 1f nh nov hdl gd.
Princeton Plains (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Raced in moderate 3rd, closed approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure run-in, 3rd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Sulwaan (10-10) at Sligo 2m nh nov hdl gd.
Sublime Talent (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, well off pace, moderate 6th after 3 out, pushed along from next, soon not clear run, rapid headway to challenge in 2nd at last, led late run-in and soon eased on to assert, won at Ballinrobe 2m mdn hdl gd in May beating Laganbank (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
First In The Queue (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led on bit last, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating King's Realm (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sixteen Forty Two (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd after 4 out, 2nd and challenged 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Cork 2m mdn hdl beating Napa Starr (11-12) by 5l, 23 ran.
