chased leader in 2nd, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, kept on well close home
held up in 3rd, ridden to close 1 1/2f out, under pressure in 2nd 1f out, kept on without matching winner inside final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
led, ridden and pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Kangaroo Valley takes a big leap in class after landing a Tipperary maiden but could hardly have won any easier and his stable would have had plenty of options for this. Downdraft has run very well in two tough handicaps since scoring at Dundalk and had Massif Central around 3l behind at Naas in October though the latter will be 8lb better off. Dream Ascot takes a big step-up in trip after racing over a mile in his last three starts but this can go to MASAFF. Dermot Weld's colt made a successful debut at Leopardstown last summer and has since run at Group and Listed level over longer trips, with his third place in a Navan Listed event in May probably good enough for this.
Downdraft (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Dwelt held up, headway and switched left 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Baghdad (9-8) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gd in Jun.
Massif Central (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) A little keen, mid-division, pushed along straight, soon headway and effort, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/4l behind War Diary (8-8) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
Dream Ascot 20-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, pushed along over 2f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Basic Law (8-9) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Jun.
Masaff (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Mid-division, 5th 4f out, ridden 2f out and 6th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Twilight Payment (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jun.
Kangaroo Valley (USA) 11-4 (9-5) Pushed along early, soon led and disputed, in front over 4f out, pushed along 2f out, soon asserted and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Tipperary 1m 4f mdn Yielding in Jun beating Yonkers (9-5) by 8l, 17 ran.
