raced in 4th, improved to track leader 4 out, pushed along into straight, on terms 3 out, soon led, asserted and stayed on well from last
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along into straight, no impression before 2 out, slight mistake last, no extra
tracked leader, led 8th, travelling smoothly into straight, mistake 3 out and joined, soon headed, slight mistake 2 out, no impression and one pace last
led, not fluent 8th and headed, dropped to rear and no extra 4 out
in rear, a little slow in jumping at times, pushed along approaching straight in 4th, soon no extra
BALKO DES FLOS was receiving 7lb from Shaneshill when they occupied the first two places in the Galway Plate. The winner won with a bit in hand and, as the runner-up has since been beaten at long odds-on at the same track, he gets the vote to follow up on the revised terms. The latter's stable companion Ballycasey was beaten a long way at Galway but will have found the going too quick and with a 9lb pull with the winner should get closer. A Toi Phil ran a fine race to finish fourth in the Plate and is a smart young chaser and he's more likely to make a race of it despite having something to find on official ratings. Kylecrue is decent in his class but has a mountain to climb against these.
A Toi Phil (FR) 6-1jfav (11-3) Mid-division, inclined to race towards outer, 11th after 10th, improved to dispute 4th into straight, one pace approaching last, 5th of 18, 7 1/4l behind Potters Point (10-5) at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
Ballycasey (IRE) 4-6fav (11-12) Led, headed 4 out, soon led, joined 2 out, soon ridden in 2nd, kept on well run-in to strongly challenge leader close home, held, 2nd of 5, hd behind The Game Changer (11-12) at Listowel 2m hvy in Sep.
Balko Des Flos (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 2nd 2 out, improved to lead at last, soon ridden clear, stayed on well final furlong, won at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Aug beating Shaneshill (11-3) by 4 3/4l, 22 ran.
Kylecrue (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Led and disputed, slight mistake 4 out, headed before 3 out and ridden, slight mistake 3 out, no extra in 3rd before 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 14 3/4l behind Dromnea (11-2) at Listowel 2m 4f hvy in Sep.
Shaneshill (IRE) 4-9fav (11-3) Led, stumbled badly on landing 5 out and almost unseated rider and joined, led again from 3 out, strongly pressed approaching straight, soon headed, no extra and one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Arbre De Vie (10-13) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Aug.
