settled behind leaders early, mid-division in 10th halfway, closer in 7th after 3 out, ridden and no extra before 2 out
held up towards rear, progress into 12th after 3 out, ridden 2 out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace run-in
rear of mid-division, progress into 10th after 3 out, 6th 2 out, soon ridden, no extra entering straight
chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to challenge 3 out, ridden in 5th before 2 out, no extra after 2 out, 10th and no impression when mistake last
mid-division, closer in 8th halfway, slight mistake 5th, progress into 5th on inner 2 out, ridden into 3rd entering straight, joined leader last when fell
held up towards rear, progress approaching 2 out, ridden into 8th after 2 out, 6th entering straight, closer in 4th last, kept on to 2nd run-in, no impression on winner, lost 2nd closing stages
towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 5th halfway, slight mistake 5th, 8th after 3 out, ridden and no extra 2 out
settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, improved into 2nd before 2 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, under pressure in 5th and badly hampered last, no extra
led, headed before 4th, close up again 5th, ridden and no extra approaching 3 out
settled behind leaders early, mid-division in 9th halfway, ridden 2 out, under pressure in 7th entering straight, no impression in 6th last, kept on one pace in 5th run-in
chased leaders, close up from 3rd, led next, ridden and headed before 2 out, under pressure in 7th after 2 out, no impression before last
held up towards rear, rear of mid-division halfway, progress into 9th after 3 out, ridden into 5th entering straight, no impression last, kept on one pace
prominent and chased leader, slight mistake 3rd, led before next where mistake and headed, 4th from 5th, mistake 3 out, improved to lead again before 2 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, under pressure in 3rd last, left 2nd, soon no impression in 4th
always towards rear, ridden 4 out, no impression next
rear of mid-division, ridden towards rear 5 out, slight mistake next, no impression from 3 out
mid-division, slight mistake and ridden 2 out, 8th entering straight, ran on run-in into 2nd, no impression on winner
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, closer in 3rd after 3 out, challenged and slight mistake 2 out, soon led travelling well, joined last, left in lead, pushed out and kept on strongly run-in, comfortably
chased leaders and slight mistake 1st, soon mid-division, ridden and dropped towards rear 5th, eased after 3 out, tailed off
always towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, ridden and no impression 4 out, weakened next and pulled up before 2 out
It takes a classy performer to win this with a big weight but Willie Mullins saddles the top three in the handicap as well as a couple further down the weights. Ruby Walsh rides the high-class Diakali, who beat stablemate Thousand Stars easily in a Grade 3 at Tipperary though was receiving 9lb so the latter should get closer. Aminabad doesn't look badly treated and can go well for the champion trainer while UK raiders Snake Eyes, who landed a novices event at Punchestown in May, and the rapidly-improving Stephanie Frances, are both of interest - the latter won a Listed handicap at Cheltenham in April. The Game Changer has been in superb form over fences and is lower in the weights over timber while Hidden Cyclone is a massive 20lb lower than over the bigger obstacles and warmed up with an easy victory on the Flat. QUICK JACK will probably start favourite and it's not difficult to see why. He could only finish third behind today's rival Wicklow Brave in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham but is 10lb better off and has since been narrowly beaten by Trip To Paris in the Chester Cup. He looks the one to be on in what is always one of the toughest races in the calendar.
Diakali (FR) 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, a little keen, closed up from 4th, on terms next, led from 3 out, asserted from before next, stayed on well, easily,, won at Tipperary 2m (1) gd in Jul beating Thousand Stars (11-9) by 10l, 5 ran.
Thousand Stars (FR) 10-3fav (11-9) Disputed lead early, headed from 2nd, dropped to 4th from 5th, under pressure from 3 out, 2nd approaching straight, no impression from before 2 out, one pace,, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Diakali (11-0) at Tipperary 2m (1) gd in Jul.
Wicklow Brave 5-4fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up last and keen, headway on outside over 2f out, driven into 4th over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 10l behind Oriental Fox (9-2) at Ascot 2m 6f stks (2) gf in Jun.
Bayan (IRE) 9-10fav (11-0) Led 1st, slight mistake 8th and pressed, slight mistake and headed 3 out, ridden in 3rd and slight mistake 2 out, kept on into 2nd run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Alelchi Inois (11-0) at Cork 2m 4f gd in Jul.
Thomas Edison (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 4th, slight mistake 5 out, progress into mid-division after 4 out, ridden in 9th after 3 out, no impression next, 10th of 14, 19 1/4l behind Waxies Dargle (10-8) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding - Soft in May.
Ted Veale (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Chased clear leader, remote 4th halfway, closer in 3rd entering straight, 2nd and no impression before last, kept on run-in without troubling winner, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Miley Shah (11-0) at Killarney 2m 4f Yielding in May.
Rawnaq (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Soon prominent, slight mistake 3rd, 2nd from 5th, led 6th, pressed 2 out, kept on well run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Tempo Mac (9-12) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
The Game Changer (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Made all, asserted straight, left further clear from 2 out, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, won at Limerick 2m 3f gd in Jul beating Shadow Catcher (11-8) by dist, 3 ran.
Macnicholson (IRE) 7-4fav (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden in 5th on outer 2f out, went moderate 3rd 1f out, kept on without threatening winner in 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Affinisea (9-7) at Roscommon 1m 4f mdn gd in Jul.
Rich Coast 20-1 (11-12) Raced in 4th, no impression from 3 out, no extra from next, pulled up before last, at Punchestown 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Marchese Marconi (IRE) 2-7fav (11-6) Made all, pushed along from 3 out, pressed next, stayed on best run-in, won at Bellewstown 2m 4f gf in Jul beating Aminabad (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 3 ran.
Plinth (IRE) 2-1fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th over 2f out and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind He's Our Man (8-7) at Limerick 2m 1f hcp gf in Jun.
Stephanie Frances (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Hed up in last pair, not fluent 4th, smooth headway to track leaders 2 out, led narrowly on bit last, pushed out final 110 yards, readily, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f lst (1) gd in Apr beating Bantam (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hidden Cyclone (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, travelled well to lead under 2f out, soon asserted, stayed on well inside final furlong, very easily, won at Leopardstown 1m 7f mdn gf in Jul beating Skilled (11-7) by 4 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hisaabaat (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, challenged 3f out, ridden and disputed 2f out, led 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Bellewstown 1m 4f gf in Jul beating Rio Treasure (10-9) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Aminabad (FR) 10-11fav (11-12) Made all, slight mistake 4th, pressed after 2 out, asserted entering straight, pushed out and kept on strongly run-in, won at Ballinrobe 2m 5f Soft - Heavy in Jul beating Vercingetorix (11-5) by 12l, 3 ran.
Max Dynamite (FR) 16-1 (9-4) In rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 19, 1 1/4l behind Quest For More (9-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Quick Jack (IRE) 4-1fav (9-1) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, every chance until held close home, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Trip To Paris (8-9) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in May.
Snake Eyes (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, soon moderate 3rd, closed from 4 out, slightly impeded early straight, challenged before last and on terms where slight mistake, led run-in, stayed on well,, won at Punchestown 2m Good - Yielding in May beating Pyromaniac (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Rae's Creek 6-4fav (11-12) 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, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f gd in Jul beating Vercingetorix (11-6) by nk, 5 ran.
Modem 11-10fav (9-12) Settled behind leaders, closer in 5th halfway, travelled well entering straight, 2nd 2 1/2f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, disputed over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, edged ahead close home, won at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Jul beating Zemario (9-2) by nk, 17 ran.
Arnaud (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In rear, closed up after 5th, soon 2nd, pushed along into straight, closed last where stumbled, challenged and led run-in, stayed on best,, won at Wexford 2m gf in Jul beating The Game Changer (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Pyromaniac (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Took keen hold in mid-division, 10th 3f out, improved to gain narrow lead 1f out, strongly pressed and kept on well to hold on at the finish, won at Curragh 2m hcp gd in May beating Awesome Star (9-3) by hd, 19 ran.
