tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, mistake 5th and not fluent 6th, pushed along and lost place from 3 out, ridden and no extra from 2 out
soon disputed lead, headed before 3 out, soon pushed along and weakened, tailed off
towards rear and 7th halfway, took closer order from 4 out and ridden in 4th from 2 out, no impression before last where not fluent, kept on into 3rd run-in, not threatening principals
mid-division and 6th halfway, good progress from 4 out and improved to dispute lead next, led from 2 out and raced wide into straight, pushed along and jumped badly right at last, ridden run-in, headed and no extra close home
raced in rear, detached from 4 out and soon no extra, pulled up before last
tracked leaders on outer and 4th halfway, took closer order from 4 out and ridden in 3rd from 2 out, went 2nd at last and kept on well run-in to lead close home
mid-division and 5th halfway, pushed along and bad mistake 2 out, soon ridden, no impression from last and kept on same pace run-in
soon disputed lead, not fluent 2nd, again not fluent 3 out, ridden and headed from next, no extra and weakened run-in
Fassbender has had a run on the Flat since scoring over 2m6f at Downpatrick and should go well while Rachael Blackmore was on board when Guido Reni was narrowly beaten into third here last time, though her mount's strike-record of 1-49 is off-putting. The Grey Lad went up 10lb for scoring at Down Royal but ran a fine race when just failing to concede 16lb to Vale Of Glory at Killarney. Hophornbeam was on a hat-trick when narrowly beaten by today's rival Innisfree Beauty over the track and trip and they meet on similar terms though the former is the more consistent. STORY RORY won easily at Ballinrobe in May and started favourite when returning there last month when he couldn't quite defy a 9lb rise. That was a better race than this and he's taken to get back on the winning trail.
The Grey Lad (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, 8th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, headway approaching straight and 3rd 3 out, 2nd and ridden after 2 out, kept on well run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Vale Of Glory (11-0) at Killarney 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Hophornbeam (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, mid-division halfway, ridden into 7th before 2 out, no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 9l behind Outback Flyer (10-9) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Abraham (IRE) 28-1 (9-13) Mid-division and 7th halfway, pushed along over 3f out and soon ridden, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 10th of 15, 13 3/4l behind Unanswered (9-10) at Killarney 1m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Snugsborough Benny (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Rear, 5th after 1st, 4th at 9th, progress after 10th, ridden in 4th after last, improved to 3rd entering straight, kept on without threatening, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Politesse (10-10) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Jul.
Fassbender (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Mid-division, pushed along and no impression under 3f out, moderate 7th entering straight, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 11 3/4l behind The Truant (9-10) at Sligo 1m 5f hcp sft in Aug.
Story Rory (IRE) 2-1fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, close up from 3rd, led and disputed before 4 out, led after 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra in 3rd run-in, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Galon De Vauzelle (10-7) at Ballinrobe 2m 6f hcp gd in Jul.
Guido Reni (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along to challenge entering straight, not fluent last, ridden and kept on well, lost 2nd closing stages, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Building Bridges (10-13) at Sligo 2m 4f hcp gd in Aug.
Innisfree Beauty (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, disputed and mistake 3 out, soon ridden in 2nd, no extra in 4th entering straight, kept on one pace, 8th of 18, 15 1/2l behind Outback Flyer (10-9) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Endlessly (IRE) 40-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 3f out, 18th of 19, 35 1/2l behind Scenic Look (9-9) at Galway 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
