broke well, led and soon clear, ridden and reduced advantage under 2f out, headed inside final furlong, weakened
tracked leaders, ridden in moderate 6th 2f out, weakened
dwelt, in rear and off pace, ridden in 11th 2f out, went moderate 7th 1f out, no impression
always towards rear, took keen hold early, no impression from 2f out
slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor
tracked leaders, pushed along in 3rd 2f out, ridden in closer 3rd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
slowly into stride, soon prominent, 2nd at halfway, ridden under 2f out, dropped to 3rd and no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, moderate 9th 2f out, ridden in moderate 9th 1f out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, 6th 1f out, went 4th and no extra when rider lost left iron close home
tracked leaders, ridden in 7th 2f out, no impression
mid-division, closer in 5th and pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, went 3rd inside final furlong, 2nd close home, kept on
dwelt, towards rear, ridden in moderate 8th 2f out, no impression
Only Spoofing likes the uphill finish here though all of his three track victories have been over the minimum. Half Nutz wins his share though a 9lb rise for last month's Curragh victory makes this tougher. Verhoyen generally races over further and was attempting to give the in-form Earls 12lb when runner-up over an extended 7f at Roscommon. The once-useful Downforce, a Listed winner here, is 20lb lower than his last victory after a poor run of form but this can go to HYPERNOVA. Joseph O'Brien's three-year-old had his first seven starts at Dundalk but reappeared after a break to land a Fairyhouse handicap in July. He led for a long way when tackling 7f at Gowran at the end of August and has surprisingly been dropped 3lb. Last week's Down Royal winner Gegenpressing and the very consistent Princess Sela are others to note.
Verhoyen 12-1 (10-5) Soon led, took keen hold, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Earls (9-0) at Roscommon 7f hcp gd in Aug.
Only Spoofing (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Prominent, 3rd halfway, ridden and lost place 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, 13th of 16, 5 1/2l behind Gordon Bennett (9-9) at Curragh 5f hcp sft in Sep.
Plunkett 10-3jfav (9-3) Held up in mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, kept on when hampered last 100 yards, no extra, 8th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Earls (8-13) at Listowel 1m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Half Nutz (IRE) 11-1 (9-3) Held up, mid-division halfway, headway into 6th 2f out, smooth progress to go 2nd 1f out, pushed along and led 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Curragh 7f hcp sft in Sep beating Dunum (9-8) by 1 1/4l, 22 ran.
Furnace Creek (IRE) 5-2fav (9-12) Towards rear on far side, pushed along early, tracked leaders and pushed along halfway, ridden and no impression over 1f out, soon no extra, eased over 1f out, last of 12, 23 3/4l behind Neo Soul (9-5) at Cork 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in May.
Downforce (IRE) 28-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders towards stands' side, 6th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden and lost place from 1 1/2f out, no extra, 17th of 20, 8 1/4l behind Dexter Belle (8-7) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Rough Diamond (IRE) 9-1 (8-7) Mid-division towards far side, pushed along and headway under 2f out, 3rd and ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final 150 yards, 9th of 20, 3 1/4l behind Dexter Belle (8-7) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Fastar (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Dwelt, trailing in last, no impression from 2f out, never a factor, 14th of 16, 30 3/4l behind Pretty Rebel (10-7) at Cork 6f hcp hvy in Sep.
Magniffico 8-1 (9-1) Fly leapt from stalls, soon settled in mid-division on inner and 5th halfway, ridden over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 1 3/4l behind Shoebox King (8-9) at Down Royal 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Mickey The Steel 7-2 (9-10) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, headway under 2f out and 4th 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 22, 2 1/4l behind Life In Colour (9-3) at Curragh 6f mdn sft in Sep.
Sunset Nova (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Held up, ridden and no impression 2f out, 11th of 15, 8 3/4l behind Mary Salome (9-12) at Listowel 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Princess Sela (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) A little slowly away, mid-division, 7th 2f out, not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden in 5th 1f out, stayed on to 2nd final 100 yards and soon pressed winner, kept on, held final strides, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Craft Irish (9-10) at Cork 6f hcp fll Good - Yielding in Sep.
Gegenpressing 6-1 (9-13) Slightly slow into stride and raced towards rear on outer, 11th halfway, pushed along from 2f out and soon good progress, ridden to challenge over 1f out and led inside final 200 yards, kept on well close home, won at Down Royal 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep beating Fastman (9-8) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Warrior Brave 50-1 (9-3) Towards rear, pushed along 2f out and some headway 1f out, not clear run over 100 yards out, kept on one pace, 13th of 20, 5 3/4l behind Dexter Belle (8-7) at Curragh 6f hcp sft in Sep.
Hypernova (IRE) 3-1 (10-0) Led, ridden and pressed 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Marsa (9-2) at Gowran Park 7f hcp gf in Aug.
Scarlet Dancer (IRE) 6-1 (8-8) Soon in rear, switched to outer over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out and soon ridden, kept on strongly into 4th inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 7, 1/2l behind Shoebox King (8-9) at Down Royal 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Sep.
