tracked leaders, soon 6th, challenged from before straight, every chance inside final furlong, kept on well without matching winner
soon led and brushed off rail early, joined over 2f out, soon headed, no extra final furlong
towards rear towards outer, soon 17th, some headway but no impression before straight, kept on
slowly into stride, in rear, some headway but no impression before straight, kept on
slowly into stride, soon raced in 9th, improved to challenge from before straight, no impression and kept on same pace from 1f out
chased leaders, soon 8th, progress to be prominent on outer into straight, every chance inside final furlong, kept on well without matching 1st 2
tracked leaders, soon 5th, lost place from before straight, no extra
held up, soon 12th, some headway and under pressure before straight, no extra from 1f out
towards rear, soon 16th on outer, no impression from 3f out, soon no extra
reared up and unseated rider start
soon raced in 10th, no impression over 2f out, soon no extra
close up, soon 2nd, on terms over 2f out, soon headed and no impression
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, on terms over 2f out, soon led, headed and kept on same pace inside final furlong
held up, soon 13th, under pressure before straight, soon no impression, kept on
held up, soon 11th, some progress but no impression before straight, kept on
soon raced in 7th, still chasing leaders and no impression into straight, kept on
held up, soon 15th, under pressure before straight, soon no impression, kept on
held up, soon raced in 14th towards outer, no impression from before straight, soon no extra
tracked leaders, soon 4th, challenged between horses from before straight, led inside final furlong and strongly pressed, stayed on well
Tony Martin has won this for the past two years, both ridden by Steven Clements. The County Meath handler has three entries this time with the winning jockey on board Ted Veale, who has been in cracking form over hurdles and fences after winning a chase at the meeting a year ago. SPACIOUS SKY, who was fourth behind stablemate Quick Jack a year ago and warmed up with a good run behind Silver Concorde at Killarney, could be good enough to give the yard its third successive victory. Encrypted Message also represents the yard and is another with chances in a wide-open event. Willie Mullins runs the useful hurdlers Whiteout and Wood Breizh and both arrive in good enough form to get involved while Gordon Elliott has a trio of entries headed by the in-form Eshtiaal, who has won four of his last five including at York last time. Sierra Sun has only run five times and will have had this as her target for some time while Jamie Codd's presence will ensure Awesome Star gets a chance despite a big weight.
Awesome Star (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Early reminders and raced in a clear 2nd, improved to lead over 4f out, ridden over 2f out and soon pressed, headed over 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Digeanta (9-2) at Curragh 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Eshtiaal (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, led over 3f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at York 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul beating William Of Orange (9-4) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Plinth (IRE) 2-1fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 4th over 2f out and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind He's Our Man (8-7) at Limerick 2m 1f hcp gf in Jun.
Unrequited (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Towards rear, raced on outer, moderate 9th 3f out, kept on same pace from 2f out, 8th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Tooreen Legend (11-0) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Sierra Sun (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Tracked leader in 3rd, 4th over 7f out, pushed along and dropped to 7th 3f out, weakened 2 1/2f out, no extra, 12th of 15, 18l behind Curvy (8-8) at Navan 1m 2f hcp fll gd in May.
Ted Veale (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Chased clear leader, remote 4th halfway, closer in 3rd entering straight, 2nd and no impression before last, kept on run-in without troubling winner, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Miley Shah (11-0) at Killarney 2m 4f Yielding in May.
Break My Mind (IRE) 5-2fav (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along over 2f out, soon ridden, dropped to 5th 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Paddy The Celeb (9-2) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp gf in Jul.
Spacious Sky (USA) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th at sedate pace, 6th into straight, soon pushed along, 5th again 2f out, 4th from 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, stayed on well closing stages, not get to winner,, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Silver Concorde (11-7) at Killarney 1m 6f Yielding in Jul.
Top Spin (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Took keen hold, soon chased leaders, 7th from 6th, closed 4 out, 4th approaching straight, slight mistake 2 out, no impression at last, one pace,, 4th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Kylecrue (11-8) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Kabjoy (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Towards rear, ridden in 7th 2f out, some progress into 6th 1f out, kept on one paced final furlong, 4th of 8, 5l behind Oceania Queen (8-4) at Ballinrobe 1m 5f hcp fll gd in Jun.
From Frost 7-2fav (11-5) Soon mid-division, not fluent 1st, slight mistake 6th, reminder 9th, pushed along briefly after 10th, pushed along approaching straight, no impression before 3 out, no extra, tailed off, last of 11, dist behind Steel King (10-12) at Roscommon 3m hcp gd in Jul.
Whiteout (GER) 11-10fav (10-13) Held up in 4th, improved to challenge 3 out, disputed next, soon ridden to lead, pressed and jumped right last, headed run-in, kept on same pace and no extra closing stages, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Kates Benefit (11-2) at Killarney 2m 1f Yielding - Soft in May.
Wood Breizh (FR) 4-6fav (9-10) Made all, ridden under 2f out and soon asserted, 4 lengths clear 1f out, stayed on well, won at Tipperary 1m 6f hcp gf in Jul beating Atan (9-11) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Encrypted Message (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Soon raced in 4th, no impression inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Sherlock Holmes (9-3) at Bellewstown 1m 6f hcp gf in Jul.
Face Value 12-1 (8-7) Led and soon clear, reminders from 7f out, reduced advantage over 5f out, ridden and headed over 4f out, soon dropped to rear and no extra, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Digeanta (9-2) at Curragh 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Eye Of The Tiger (GER) 8-1 (8-12) Ran 6th, ridden into 4th 1 1/2f out, progress to 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Zafayan (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Knight's Parade (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In rear, pushed along at stages, detached from before 7th, briefly moderate 3rd from 9th, moderate 4th when hit 10th, eased from 2 out, pulled up before last, at Down Royal 2m 6f Yielding in May.
Storm Away (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden into 2nd last, kept on without reaching winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Punch Bag (10-11) at Limerick 2m gd in Jul.
Modem 11-10fav (9-12) Settled behind leaders, closer in 5th halfway, travelled well entering straight, 2nd 2 1/2f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, disputed over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, edged ahead close home, won at Killarney 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Jul beating Zemario (9-2) by nk, 17 ran.
