always behind
never a factor
mid-division, 9th on outer approaching straight, no impression from under 2f out
mid-division, 11th before halfway, headway 4f out, 3rd and ridden early straight, no extra over 1f out, eased
mid-division, 15th halfway, 10th and headway entering straight, 3rd under 2f out, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner
always behind
rear of mid-division, no extra straight
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, 5th approaching straight, no impression from 2f out, kept on same pace
held up, progress 4f out, 11th 2f out, kept on without threatening
mid-division, 12th approaching halfway, 9th 6f out, no impression straight
rear of mid-division, smooth headway 4f out, 7th early straight, led travelling easily over 1f out, drew clear, not extended
held up, progress halfway, 6th approaching straight, ridden and no impression from over 2f out
always prominent, 6th halfway, close 2nd over 5f out, ridden straight, 5th and no extra from over 1f out
held up, headway 4f out, 8th entering straight, 4th and challenged 2f out, no extra final furlong, eased close home
mid-division, headway 6f out, led under 5f out, ridden and edged clear early straight, headed over 1f out, soon no extra
prominent, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened approaching straight
prominent, 5th on outer 5f out, no extra straight
prominent, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 4f out, weakened early straight
mid-division on outer, weakened approaching straight
prominent, 2nd halfway, led briefly 5f out, weakened before straight
led, headed and weakened quickly 5f out, trailing straight, tailed off
close up early, mid-division halfway, weakened before straight
held up, kept on without threatening straight
rear of mid-division, progress 5f out, 4th early straight, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from over 1f out
towards rear, kept on one pace straight
never a factor
prominent, 3rd halfway, weakened quickly over 4f out, trailing straight, tailed off
Three-year-olds have a fine record and John Oxx won it last year with Minsk so stablemate Hay Point, who has only had six runs, has to be on the short list. Those who witnessed the performance of VOLEUSE DE COEURS at Galway can't have failed to be impressed and the assessor certainly was, handing her a 15lb rise in the weights. Dermot Weld's filly should handle the softer ground and should be too good for her returning stablemate Hidden Universe, who will be back over hurdles before long. Seventh Sign has improved dramatically since being stepped up in trip and was very impressive when completing a hat-trick at Killarney. He's another with a big weight rise to contend with but he should get into the mix. Missunited has won seven of her 11 starts on the Flat and over hurdles and has to be on the short-list along with Sir Ector, who followed a victory over this trip at Leopardstown with a very convincing success over hurdles. Willie Mullins won this in 2009 and Rattan, who has scored twice over hurdles recently, looks to have been laid out for the race.
Gimli's Rock (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, driven along 5f out, no extra from 3f out, weakened, 7th of 9, 40l behind Alhellal (8-8) at Down Royal 1m 5f hcp sft in Jun.
Hidden Universe (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2f out, stayed on to lead 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Nov beating Pozyc (8-4) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Sir Ector (USA) 8-1 (9-12) Chased leaders and took keen hold, headway to lead entering straight, soon ridden clear, reduced advantage inside final furlong but stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp gs in Aug beating Takeyourcapoff (9-3) by 2l, 12 ran.
Shadow Eile (IRE) 9-4 (9-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led over 6f out, attempted to assert approaching 2f out, reduced lead final furlong, kept on gamely to go on again closing stages, won at Galway 1m 6f stks sft in Aug beating Distant Memories (9-5) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Missunited (IRE) 11-8fav (10-9) Always prominent, led approaching straight, soon pressed, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Listowel 1m 6f am stks (4yo+) hvy in Sep beating Saint Gervais (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Admiral Barry (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden into 4th 2f out, stayed on on outer to press winner final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind One Cool Shabra (8-4) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
Cul Baire (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 2nd 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 5th of 13, 23l behind One Cool Shabra (8-4) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp hvy in Sep.
Placere (IRE) 9-2 (8-3) Rear of mid-division, under pressure from 4f out, 10th into straight, ran on strongly from 1 1/2f out, nearest at finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Montebell (8-6) at Curragh 1m 4f fll hcp in Sep.
Macbeth (IRE) 18-1 (9-1) Chased leader, moderate 3rd into straight, soon no impression under pressure, 5th of 6, 14l behind Chamonix (9-4) at Listowel 1m 4f Listed stks (1) hvy in Sep.
Rattan (USA) 9-4 (8-11) Soon well off pace in mid-division, closer order and headway from under 4f out, 3rd over 2f out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Steps To Freedom (10-3) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Jul.
Voleuse De Coeurs (IRE) 9-2fav (8-11) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th 3f out, improved to lead 2f out, ridden clear 1f out, kept on strongly, won at Galway 2m hcp 55-80 sft in Jul beating Domination (9-7) by 8l, 20 ran.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden in 4th 3f out, no extra straight, 6th of 19, 9l behind Midnight Music (11-1) at Galway 2m am hcp 70-100 gd in Jul.
Pageboy (IRE) 4-5fav (9-13) Tracked leaders, close 3rd travelling best 3f out, smooth headway to lead entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed under 1f out, soon no extra, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Highflying (9-5) at Listowel 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn hvy in Sep.
Double Double (FR) 9-2fav (11-8) Settled in mid-division, 10th entering straight, headway travelling well to lead over 1f out, soon ridden and kept on under pressure, headed final strides, 2nd of 18, hd behind King Of Aran (11-3) at Curragh 1m 4f Amateur Handicap (50-85) (3yo+) in Sep.
Tantalising (IRE) 16-1 (8-1) Raced in 2nd, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, kept on under pressure, 5th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Montebell (8-6) at Curragh 1m 4f fll hcp in Sep.
Seventh Sign 5-1 (9-3) Always prominent, mainly 2nd, on terms 4f out, in front into straight, went clear 2f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Killarney 1m 6f hcp sft in Sep beating Bahrain Storm (9-7) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Hay Point (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Soon led, edged clear approaching halfway, ridden and headed over 2f out, rallied under pressure, kept on final furlong, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Montebell (8-6) at Curragh 1m 4f fll hcp in Sep.
Shamiran (IRE) 7-1 (8-6) Tracked leader, no impression under pressure from 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Inis Meain (8-5) at Galway 1m 4f hcp sft in Aug.
Sky Pilot (IRE) 9-2fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 3rd entering straight, kept on same pace from 1 1/2f out, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Sir Ector (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m hcp gs in Aug.
Whatuthink (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Led, headed over 4f out, ridden in 3rd 3f out, no impression in 4th 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 9l behind Marlos Moment (8-6) at Listowel 1m 6f hcp hvy in Sep.
Liszt (IRE) 9-4 (9-2) Dwelt, tracked leaders in 4th, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 9l behind Miss Wendy (8-2) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo sll (5) gd in Sep '10.
Highflying (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th 3f out, headway into 2nd early straight, soon ridden to challenge, led under 1f out, stayed on well, won at Listowel 1m 4f 3yo & 4yo mdn hvy in Sep beating Pageboy (9-13) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Run With The Wind (IRE) 7-2fav (7-13) Mid-division on outer, took keen hold, 5th approaching straight, ridden and headway into 2nd over 1f out, soon no chance with easy winner and dropped to 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 16, 5l behind Royal Diamond (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gd in Apr.
Lough Ferrib (IRE) 4-1fav (9-11) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind First Friday (8-11) at Cork 1m 4f hcp 47-65 sft in Jun.
Hide The Evidence (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Mid-division, 6th halfway, headway into 2nd 4f out, led over 2f out, pushed out to go clear 1 1/2f out, kept on strongly final furlong, easily, won at Roscommon 1m 4f app hcp 50-70 hvy beating Salacious Sally (9-10) by 19l, 10 ran.
Mont Blanc 7-1 (9-8) Soon raced in 4th, no impression under pressure from 2f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong, 9th of 10, 19l behind Maude Adams (8-13) at Roscommon 1m 2f fll hcp in Sep.
Narima (GER) 25-1 (8-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, dropped to 9th 4f out, ridden 3f out, no impression in 10th 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Blue Cannon (7-13) at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp in Sep.
