tracked leaders, niggled along from 3 out, no extra next, pulled up entering straight
tracked leader, slight mistake 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 6th after 3 out, no impression under pressure from next, moderate 4th at last, kept on without troubling winner run-in
tracked leaders, keen hold, slight mistake 4 out, squeezed a bit for room approaching 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, 5th and kept on same pace from last
chased leaders, keen hold, closed after 3 out, travelling well approaching next, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace from last
made all, went clear from 2 out, stayed on well under pressure from last
always towards rear, no impression from 2 out
soon towards rear, no impression 2 out
towards rear, 8th after 3 out, no impression under pressure from next, 6th and kept on from last
The annual Dermot Weld jamboree gets under way and the Rosewell House flag-bearer this year is SULWAAN. A dual winner on the Flat for Mark Johnston, he made an impressive hurdling debut when beating the odds-on Tavern Times at Sligo and no doubt his trainer will have left something to work on for this. The penalised Devils Bit may have a little too much to do in this company but Devil's Elbow looked a potentially high-class recruit when easily landing a Ballinrobe maiden on his hurdling debut. UK raider Banyan Tree didn't impress everyone with his attitude when scoring at Worcester but there's no doubting his ability while Virgil Earp has run poorly on the Flat since scoring over 2m4f at Roscommon. High Importance has a bit to find on overall form though he does hold Mejd on his victory at Bellewstown. Acapulco Gold, three times a winner on the Flat in France, is a very interesting newcomer for Paul Nolan.
Devils Bit (IRE) 13-8 (11-4) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 2 out, soon ridden clear, kept on well from last, won at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl gf in Jun beating Magical Memoir (11-2) by 7l, 10 ran.
Banyan Tree (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Chased leaders, challenged before 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd beating The Winged Assasin (11-0) by 5l, 14 ran.
Devil's Elbow 5-1 (11-5) Soon mid-division, progress to track leaders from 3 out, 2nd approaching straight where led and raced wide, clear last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Ballinrobe 2m am mdn hdl in Jun beating Boxer Beat (11-0) by 8l, 15 ran.
High Importance (USA) 10-1 (11-0) Settled mid-division, 5th halfway, headway to challenge in 2nd 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Bellewstown 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl gf beating Shake The Bucket (11-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Sulwaan (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Raced well off pace in last of 4, pushed along after 3 out, closed under pressure from before last, led and stayed on well run-in, won at Sligo 2m nh nov hdl gd beating Tavern Times (11-7) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Virgil Earp 11-4 (10-13) Close up, keen hold, mistake 6th, led 4 out, clear after next, not fluent 2 out, stayed on well after, eased closing stages, easily, won at Wexford 2m 4f mdn hdl gf in Jun beating Luck Pennie (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Acapulco Gold (IRE) (9-4) won at Toulouse(FR) 1m 2f stk gs in Sep beating Got Life (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran (flat).
Palio Square (USA) 7-2fav (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 23l behind La Estrella (9-6) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Mar (flat).
Miss Nomer (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, 7th approaching 4 out, left 2nd from next, not fluent 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 13l behind Black Rock Lake (10-13) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl gd.
Mejd (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Prominent, keen hold, led before 5 out, fell 3 out, in a race won by Black Rock Lake (10-13) at Kilbeggan 2m mdn hdl gd, 14 ran.
