held up towards rear, ridden into 5th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
led, pressed 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leader in 2nd, ridden to challenge 2f out, led 1f out, kept on strongly inside final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden over 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, soon no impression on leaders, 4th inside final furlong, kept on one pace
held up towards rear, ridden into 6th 2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, 3rd and kept on same pace inside final furlong, no impression on leaders
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, soon no extra
dwelt, soon mid-division, 5th halfway, ridden in 7th 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
chased leaders early, soon mid-division, ridden and no extra 2f out, weakened
It's difficult to know what to make of North Face, who has to concede weight to older horses despite only landing a Navan maiden a fortnight ago. The half-brother to Beethoven will have had plenty of options and is in a Group 2 next month so the fact that he runs in this conditions event is a pointer to his chances. BURNING QUESTION gained a spectacular victory over the prolific Waitingfortheday on testing ground in a Listowel handicap and has gone up 21lb in the weights so this looks an ideal opportunity to complete a double in receipt of weight from the Ballydoyle colt. Drombeg Dream has won twice on soft going though hasn't been in the best of form since returning from a break while Venetian Rock has questions to answer. The latter started a short-priced favourite on her debut over 6f at the Curragh last month and though she could only stay on at one pace better was obviously expected.
Tony The Gent (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Mid-division early, soon towards rear, ridden under 2f out, stayed on into 6th 1f out and not clear run on rail, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Dream Walker (9-11) at Galway 1m 1f hvy in Sep.
Burning Question (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Soon led, 3 lengths in front from 2f out and soon stretched further clear, kept on strongly inside final furlong, very easily, won at Listowel 1m hcp fll Soft - Heavy in Sep beating Waitingfortheday (9-4) by 14l, 12 ran.
Drombeg Dream (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress into 4th 2 1/2f out, ridden and no extra 1 1/2f out, 9th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Stormy Belle (9-0) at Listowel 7f hcp hvy in Sep.
So Long Marianne (IRE) 9-2 (8-11) Towards rear, effort straight, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Bond Street (9-1) at Leopardstown 7f gf in Jun.
Chiavari (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Mid-division early, soon towards rear, ridden into 9th 2 1/2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, kept on same pace in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Prosecution (9-7) at Listowel 1m 1f hcp hvy in Sep.
Merited (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Dwelt and towards rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on into 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 8th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Raphael (9-4) at Naas 1m hcp gd in Sep.
Savitar (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Went left from stalls and raced towards rear, 12th from halfway, pushed along and some progress into 8th from 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 8th of 15, 12l behind Shatharaat (9-5) at Listowel 7f mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Venetian Rock (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Uneasy in stalls, prominent and pushed along briefly early, pushed along again in 3rd after halfway, no extra and one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 18, 4 3/4l behind Lost Treasure (9-5) at Curragh 6f mdn Yielding in Aug.
Santorini Sun (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, soon 3rd, closed travelling smoothly straight, ridden on inner behind winner over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Zalzar (8-10) at Gowran Park 1m fll gf in Sep.
North Face (IRE) 10-3fav (9-5) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd 2f out, pushed along and headway to lead over 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Navan 1m mdn gd in Sep beating Dubai Rainbow (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
