in touch, took closer order at 5th, 3rd at 8th, 5th before 12th, improved to 2nd after 12th, ridden after 3 out, headway and on terms last where mistake and unseated rider
close up, 6th after 8th, lost place at 9th where pecked and unseated rider
rear of mid-division, towards rear and mistake at 7th, 11th after 8th, pushed along in 9th after 4 out, good headway after 3 out, stayed on in 4th before last where left 3rd, kept on same pace
towards rear, 10th after 8th, slightly hampered at 9th, headway after 10th, 6th after 4 out, no impression last where fell
towards rear, jumped right at 2nd, 13th after 8th, headway to 8th after 4 out, no impression before 2 out, left 7th run-in, kept on without threatening
in rear, 15th after 8th, hampered by loose horse at 10th, no impression after 4 out, detached 3 out, weakened before 2 out, never a factor
towards rear, bad mistake at 1st and rider lost irons, pulled up before 2nd
prominent, tracked leader in 2nd after 1st, slight mistake at 7th, on terms at 11th, headed before 12th where not fluent, soon 3rd, lost place after 13th, weakened and fell 4 out
rear, 14th after 8th, pushed along in 10th after 4 out, headway before 2 out where not fluent, no impression before last, left 5th run-in, kept on
mid-division, 7th after 8th, mistake at 10th, progress to 5th after 4 out, improved to 4th after 3 out, dropped to 5th before 2 out, left 4th and no impression run-in
mid-division, 9th after 8th, headway after 10th, 6th before 12th, progress after 13th, 3rd after 4 out, lost place and under pressure after 3 out, weakened before 2 out where not fluent
tracked leader, led after 1st, joined at 11th, led before 12th, ridden before 2 out, joined last where left clear, driven out
rear, slight mistake at 5th, 12th after 8th, under pressure and ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, never a factor
rear of mid-division, 8th after 8th, slight mistake at 10th, 7th after 4 out, no impression 2 out, not fluent last, weakened
led narrowly, headed after 1st and in touch, 5th after 8th, 4th before 12th, progress after 3 out, 3rd before last where left 2nd and slightly hampered, ridden and kept on, not trouble winner
close up, slight mistake in 4th at 7th, 3rd before 12th, injured and pulled up before 4 out
Willie Mullins has three of the four reserves and Rock Road would be an obvious threat if getting a run. The first three home in the Galway Plate, HEWICK, Darasso and El Barra, plus several others who ran in the Festival handicap, renew rivalry. The winner, who had won Sandown's bet365 handicap over 3m5f in April, will have found the Galway trip on the short side and was impeded by a loose horse so is taken to defy an 8lb rise. Hurricane Georgie, who had won his previous three races, fell at the first in the Plate but Busselton, who won the beginners' chase on this card last year and is one of six from Joseph O'Brien's yard, would have a chance off his low weight if able to repeat his victory over Darrens Hope at Killarney in May though he finished behind Gabbys Cross in the Galway Blazers and the winner is more progressive than most of these.
Hewick (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, close up 5 out and left disputing, led after 3 out, reached for 2 out, ridden after last, pressed entering straight, asserted over 1f out, carried right by loose horse and hindered inside final furlong, all out close homehome, won at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul beating Darasso (11-0) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
El Barra (FR) 9-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders early, soon mid-division, slightly hampered 5 out, soon closer, 6th 3 out, improved on inner 2 out, ridden in 3rd after last, under pressure in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 21, 3 3/4l behind Hewick (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Darasso (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Held up, closer after 5 out, 7th 3 out, ridden before 2 out, 5th entering straight, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, stand's side and pressed leader closing stages, just held, 2nd of 21, 1/2l behind Hewick (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Cape Gentleman (IRE) 1-3fav (11-12) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along approaching 2 out, no impression on winner from before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Fan De Blues (11-12) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f gd in Aug.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, fell 3rd, at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Ronald Pump 5-2 (11-0) Towards rear, not fluent 4th and 6th, took closer order from 4 out and ridden in 4th from next, not fluent in 3rd at last, kept on without matching principals run-in, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Salvador Ziggy (11-6) at Down Royal 3m gd in Aug.
Hurricane Georgie (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Fire Attack (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Led, joined and fell 5 out, at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
Gabbys Cross (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Held up towards, progress into 8th before 6 out, mistake 3 out, improved into 3rd before 2 out, ridden to dispute after last, led before straight, came stand's side run-in, kept on well under pressure, won at Galway 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul beating Busselton (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 20 ran.
Gin On Lime (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, mistake 6 out, closer in 4th after 5 out, ridden and no extra after last, 12th of 21, 20l behind Hewick (11-7) at Galway 2m 7f hcp gd in Jul.
The Jam Man (IRE) 22-1 (9-2) In touch, 3rd halfway, under pressure 2 1/2f out, lost place 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Lunar Power (9-4) at Clonmel 2m hcp gd in Sep.
Busselton (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Close up and disputed at times, 2nd after 3 out, disputed last, soon ridden, headed before straight, under pressure in 2nd entering straight, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 20, 2 1/4l behind Gabbys Cross (11-9) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Freewheelin Dylan (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Pushed along early, soon tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, disputed 6 out, headed 4 out, 4th before 2 out, ridden and no impression after last, no extra entering straight, 9th of 20, 9 3/4l behind Gabbys Cross (11-9) at Galway 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Embittered (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) In touch, 6th halfway, 7th after 3 out, lost place before 2 out, under pressure under pressure and ridden after 2 out, mistake and slightly hampered last, no extra, 8th of 20, 12 3/4l behind Tudor City (11-4) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Recite A Prayer (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Hurricane Georgie (10-8) at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Rock Road (IRE) 11-4fav (10-9) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, soon headway on inner, challenged from after 2 out, gained narrow lead run-in, stayed on well to assert closing stages, won at Killarney 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug beating Exit Poll (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Early Doors (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division early, towards rear halfway, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no impression, 8th of 11, 28 3/4l behind Santa Rossa (10-12) at Tipperary 2m (1) Yielding in Jun.
Discordantly (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Led, not fluent 8th, pressed before 3 out, headed 3 out, pushed along and lost place before next, no extra, 7th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Darver Star (11-13) at Galway 2m 5f Yielding in Sep.
Jeremys Flame (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Led, took keen hold, slow jump at 2nd and joined, slow again at 3rd, led before next, slight mistake 5th, mistake and headed 3 out, soon ridden and switched to outer, no impression on winner before last, 3rd after last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Shannon Glory (11-6) at Bellewstown 2m 4f gd in Aug.
Tullybeg (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to lead before 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Wexford 2m 4f Yielding in Sep beating Rambranlt'jac (11-7) by 3 3/4l, 4 ran.
Bacardys (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Led, jumped left at 1st, not fluent at 4th, headed before 6th, led after 7th, increased advantage 4 out, reduced lead after 3 out, headed 2 out where mistake and fell, at Tramore 2m 6f gd in Aug.
