a little slow away, chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, closer in 4th after 7th, slight mistake 3 out, one pace from after next and slight mistake last
led, a little slow 2nd, slightly impeded by loose horse approaching 4th, slight mistake 7th, joined approaching 2 out, soon headed and no extra
prominent, slight mistakes 3rd and 4th, closer in 3rd after 7th, pushed along briefly after 3 out, pushed along again approaching 2 out, soon one pace
waited with, soon in rear, slightly impeded 1st, slight mistakes 2nd and 3rd and at times after, detached 4 out and no danger, refused and unseated rider 2 out
bumped with rival 1st, waited with, closer in 6th after 7th, effort on outer approaching 2 out, soon one pace
waited with, slight mistake 4th, closer in 5th after 7th, slight mistake 4 out, closed up before 2 out, led before straight, stayed on well to assert run-in, comfortably
slight mistake 1st, chased leaders, closed up from 2nd to be prominent, on terms approaching 2 out, soon led, headed before straight, no extra and one pace run-in
BAL DE RIO has had 13 starts over hurdles without winning but has been placed ten times. He's won four times on the Flat and ran a fine race on the level at Galway last week so can finally get off the mark over timber. Nero Rock will be receiving 8lb and has some decent form to his credit though he couldn't find a finishing burst when tackling this trip at Cork last month. Rian Thomas makes his hurdling debut on his first start for Ted Walsh and is one to note in the market but winning bumper Gun Merchant has been inconsistent over timber.
Bal De Rio (FR) 25-1 (9-12) Settled behind leaders, 7th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, kept on same pace from 1f out, 4th of 15, 2 3/4l behind Walking On Glass (9-7) at Galway 2m hcp Yielding in Jul.
Gagas Horse 16-1 (11-7) Slowly away, always towards rear, never a factor, 13th of 16, 30 1/2l behind Theatre World (11-3) at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Gun Merchant 4-1jfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, ridden in 7th 3 out, no impression, 6th of 13, 18 1/4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Gowran Park 3m hcp gd in Jul.
Malbas 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden in 5th and no impression over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 17, 10 1/4l behind Shake A Leg (8-11) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Ballinruddy (IRE) 150-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, dropped to rear and trailing when hampered at 5th, no impression, 10th of 14, dist behind Whirling Dervish (12-0) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn Yielding in Aug.
Jerry Russell (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, 10th 3 out, ridden in 7th next, no impression, 6th of 15, 9l behind Barnaviddaun (11-10) at Downpatrick 2m 3f mdn sft in Mar.
Nero Rock (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Bad mistake 1st, keen, waited with, slight mistake 6th, headway from 4 out, effort before last, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 6l behind Chead Solas (12-0) at Cork 2m 4f mdn Yielding in Jul.
Rian Thomas (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Led, headed after 2f, pushed along and almost on terms under 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Don't Bet On It (11-7) at Kilbeggan 2m sft in Aug.
