always prominent, led before halfway, headed well over 1f out, kept on under pressure but no impression on winner
always prominent, led well over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, kept on well
chased leaders on stands side rail, switched right 1 1/2f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, kept on under pressure without troubling winner
chased leaders on outer, some headway from over 1f out, kept on without reaching leaders
towards rear, kept on well from over 1f out, short of room well inside final furlong
prominent on outer, 3rd 2f out, ridden and no impression from over 1f out
chased leaders, 4th halfway, no threat from under 2f out, weakened
prominent early, no impression when short of room over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, short of room 1f out, kept on one pace
slowly into stride and always behind
A tight looking handicap though the bottom pair are out of the weights. Moonreach had Jembatt and Calm Bay just behind when scoring at Dundalk last Sunday but the runner-up has the best of the weights and should come out on top this time. The Reaper was receiving 21lb when beating Calm Bay under a length at Dundalk in April and would have no chance on that form at these weights but he's improved subsequently and it should be close between the pair here. He just about has the beating of ROICEAD on their run at Tipperary earlier this month but Brendan Duke's charge is progressing with every run and looks set to gain his third success of the season.
Nocturnal Affair (SAF) 14-1 (8-13) Tracked leading pair until 400m out, weakened, 9th of 14, 5l behind Rakaan (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp in Feb.
Roicead (USA) 9-2 (9-5) Always prominent on stands' side, led 2f out, asserted inside final furlong and kept on well closing stages, won at Tipperary 5f hcp 60-100 gf beating The Reaper (9-11) by 2l, 13 ran.
The Reaper (IRE) 4-1fav (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, driven along from 2f out, no impression on winner from 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Below Zero (8-11) at Dundalk 6f hcp pol.
Blue Dahlia (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division on far side, headway 2f out, 3rd early final furlong, no extra closing stages, 5th of 13, 5l behind Roicead (9-5) at Tipperary 5f hcp 60-100 gf.
Moonreach (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, 5th on outer halfway, ridden to challenge 1f out, kept on under pressure to lead inside final 100 yards, won at Dundalk 5f 3yo stks pol beating Jembatt (9-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Anadolu (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Mid-division best, ridden and no extra 2f out, 12th of 13, 10l behind Captain Carey (9-2) at Curragh 5f hcp in Jul.
Calm Bay (IRE) 2-1fav (9-3) Soon led, travelling best 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed from 1f out, found little and headed final 100 yards, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Moonreach (9-3) at Dundalk 5f 3yo stks pol.
Jembatt (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Broke well and tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to challenge 1f out and every chance, headed by winner inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Moonreach (9-3) at Dundalk 5f 3yo stks pol.
Liberty Island (IRE) 16-1 (7-13) Prominent early on far side, 7th 2f out, soon no extra, 11th of 13, 7l behind Roicead (9-5) at Tipperary 5f hcp 60-100 gf.
Just For Mary 20-1 (8-10) Reared leaving stalls and slowly away, never a factor, 21st of 26, 17l behind Eur Elusive (8-4) at Curragh 6f hcp 50-85 gd.
