mid-division, 8th on outer halfway, pushed along 4f out and dropped to rear entering straight, kept on one pace from over 1f out
disputed early, tracked leader in 2nd, ridden approaching straight, no impression in 6th and short of room 1f out, no extra
mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden in 6th 2f out and 5th 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, no extra approaching straight, weakened
rear of mid-division, 10th entering straight, ridden in 7th 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace
held up in rear, never a factor, checked halfway, kept on one pace in straight
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 2nd entering straight, dropped to 4th 1f out and no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, progress on outer under 2f out, led 100 yards out, kept on
held up in rear of mid-division, 13th entering straight, progress on outer to go 4th 150 yards out, kept on well, not reach winner
rear of mid-division, 14th entering straight, progress under 2f out and went 7th 150 yards out, kept on
prominent early, 3rd halfway, ridden and lost place approaching straight, weakened
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no extra early straight, weakened
mid-division, 10th halfway, progress into 4th 2f out, led briefly early final furlong, headed 100 yards out, no extra
soon led, pushed along to assert and 3 lengths advantage 3f out, challenged 1f out and soon headed, no extra
chased leaders, 7th halfway, 8th entering straight and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace
There won't be many tougher races to fathom over the weekend. Willie Mullins won it a year ago with Pique Sous when stablemate DIGEANTA finished strongly into third. Pat Smullen takes over today and the lightly-raced seven-year-old, already a bumper and hurdles winner, can follow up his victory over Marchese Marconi at Killarney. The latter's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, has a trio of entries with Joseph choosing Blue Hussar, who makes his handicap debut after just three runs, with his brother Donnacha on the reappearing Chamonix, whose last run was in the Irish St Leger, and sister Ana on board Egyptian Warrior, who needs to find more. Wexford Town completed a double in very lucrative handicaps before stepping into Listed company over this track and trip and running well. He's now 19lb higher than his latest handicap success and will find this very difficult. Bayan has to be a big threat to all as he followed his course and distance victory with a tremendous effort in the Galway Hurdle where he finished runner-up. Cassells Rock has struck top form and followed his victory over 2m here with another over hurdles at Bellewstown and Richard Fahey wouldn't be sending the consistent English Summer here without good reason. The hat-trick seeking Winter Lion can go well and Pyromaniac would have to be considered if getting a run from his reserve spot.
Chamonix (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Disputed briefly early, soon chased leader in 2nd, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened 5f out, eased 2f out, 9th of 10, 34l behind Voleuse De Coeurs (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep '13.
Wexford Town (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) Held up in 3rd, 4th after 4f, pushed into closer 3rd 4f out, driven over 2f out, no impression final 2f, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Pale Mimosa (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Jul.
Bayan (IRE) 3-1fav (9-2) Raced towards rear, ridden in rear over 4f out, moderate progress from 2f out, 7th 1f out and kept on strongly inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Jul beating Stocktons Wing (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Erlkonig (GER) 8-1 (8-12) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along approaching straight and soon no extra, towards rear over 2f out, eased final furlong, 13th of 14, 32l behind Chance To Dance (9-3) at Cork 1m 4f pren hcp gf in Jun.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Held up in 4th, ridden in last over 3f out, soon no impression, last of 5, 13l behind Adelaide (9-3) at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft in May.
Egyptian Warrior (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, ridden entering straight, no impression, never a factor, 13th of 14, 20l behind Panama Hat (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Aug.
Digeanta (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) Made virtually all, joined briefly entering straight and ridden, led again over 2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Killarney 2m 1f am stks (4yo+) gd in Aug beating Marchese Marconi (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Toe The Line (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway under 2f out, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong into 2nd close home, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Princess Pearlita (8-1) at Killarney 1m 3f fll hcp gd in Aug.
Cassells Rock (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Made all, travelling well 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, ridden over 150 yards out, readily, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp in Aug beating Money Spider (9-4) by 1l, 8 ran.
Spacious Sky (USA) 9-2fav (8-8) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, not clear run over 2f out, driven to press leaders entering final furlong, no impression final 10 yards, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Edge Of Sanity (9-6) at York 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Dalasiri (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Soon led, joined after 6f, soon headed, under pressure on inner 5f out, 7th 4f out, no extra and eased straight, 18th of 20, well behind Quick Jack (10-11) at Galway 2m am hcp 70-100 gd in Jul.
English Summer 10-3fav (9-7) Midfield, lost place over 6f out, soon behind, 6th of 10, 8l behind Annaluna (8-10) at Chester 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Aug.
Silwana (IRE) 2-5fav (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, progress to lead entering straight, ridden to assert 1f out, kept on well, won at Galway 1m 4f 3yo fll stks sft in Aug beating Cailini Alainn (9-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
Winter Lion (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Led, soon 2nd, improved to lead under 4f out, ridden 3f out and asserted 2 1/2f out, kept on strongly final furlong, eased close home, won at Killarney 1m 6f hcp gd in Aug beating Modem (9-1) by 2l, 12 ran.
Pivot Bridge 7-1 (9-3) Always towards rear, ridden early straight and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 11, 7l behind Tooreen Legend (9-12) at Gowran Park 1m 4f hcp gd.
Zaidiyn (FR) 40-1 (9-8) Steadied start, behind, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 11th of 16, 6l behind Glenard (9-4) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Redera (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Raced mainly in 7th, dropped to rear 6f out, ridden over 3f out and kept on from under 2f out, 5th of 8, 5l behind El Salvador (11-0) at Killarney 1m 6f am stks (4yo+) gd in Jul.
Pyromaniac (IRE) 5-2fav (9-8) Mid-division, closed over 3f out, 4th over 2f out, 2nd straight and soon challenged, led inside final furlong, soon pressed and stayed on well, just held on,, won at Galway 1m 4f hcp 50-80 in Aug beating Pivot Bridge (9-7) by shd, 10 ran.
