held up behind leaders, improved and almost on terms 2 out where slight mistake, chased winner from before last, one pace
raced in 2nd, not fluent 2nd, on terms 6th, pushed along 3 out, 3rd and one pace from before last
held up behind leaders, headway on inner approaching 2 out where led, stayed on well from before last
led, slight mistake 5th, not fluent 6th and joined, slight mistake 10th, slight mistake 5 out and reminder, pushed along from 3 out, headed next, soon slightly impeded and dropped to last and no impression
A small but select field of recent winners contest this with Gordon Elliott complicating matters by saddling Beau Et Sublime, a winner over 2m4f at Down Royal, and COGRYHILL, a useful hurdler who beat what looked a strong field over an extended three miles at Wexford. The latter's stamina could come into play in what should be a strongly run affair and he gets the nod. Akito beat Our Dougal, who runs in the opener, at Killarney, but couldn't get to the leaders in a better race at Galway. Full Cry had come up against some smart novices before a comfortable victory at Kilbeggan and he'll improve again but Scamall Dubh had shown virtually nothing before a shock victory at Galway.
Akito (FR) 13-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 2 out, not fluent last, 3rd approaching straight, soon one pace, 4th of 8, 9l behind Xsquared (11-9) at Galway 2m 2f Good - Yielding in Jul.
Cogryhill (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, 2nd 4 out, ridden in 2nd entering straight, close 2nd when mistake at last, rallied run-in and stayed on well to lead near line, won at Wexford 3m 2f gd in Jul beating Thanks For Tea (11-5) by hd, 14 ran.
Full Cry (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division and not fluent 3rd, 5th before 5 out, 4th after 3 out and soon pushed along, ridden in 3rd before last and soon led, kept on well run-in, won at Kilbeggan 2m 4f gd in Aug beating Swantykay (11-12) by 5 1/2l, 14 ran.
Scamall Dubh (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, closer in 2nd approaching straight, under pressure and soon challenged, stayed on well to lead near line, won at Galway 2m 7f Good - Yielding in Jul beating Marinero (11-12) by nk, 16 ran.
Beau Et Sublime (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Soon prominent, slight mistake 3 out, challenged and on terms straight, led 2 out, soon headed, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Heron Heights (11-7) at Limerick 2m 3f gd in Jul.
