tracked leader, led narrowly when blundered 2 out, headed before last, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place before 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
held up mid-division, headway to track leaders before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
led, headed narrowly 2 out, riden before last, soon weakened
held up mid-division, took keen hold, tracked leaders after 5th, kept on from last
held up behind, headway before 2 out, led before last, kept on well
held up in rear, headway from 2 out, ridden before last, kept on
tracked leaders and keen, ridden before 2 out, veered badly right before and blundered last, kept on well run-in
behind, struggling before 4 out
Gordon Elliott won this last year and can stage a repeat with SEISMIC. The four-year-old came good over staying trips on the Flat in the spring and appeared to find 2m too sharp on his hurdling debut when fourth at Downpatrick. Winning pointer Book Of Excuses looks a danger but Star Date keeps finding one too good and there's no guarantee that the five-year-old will appreciate the extra half-mile. Sharp Rise, another winning pointer, may need this but The Chief Villain has shown some promise and jockey bookings suggest he's the pick of Stuart Crawford's three runners.
Book Of Excuses (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Cl up, ld 5out & sent on, v impsve, won at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp in Jun beating Mile House (11-6) by 15l, 18 ran.
Hombre De Hierro (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Led early, tracked leaders, lost place halfway, tailed off over 4f out, last of 13, well behind Fivefortyfive (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jun.
Nanaimo (CAN) 25-1 (11-12) Never better than mid-division, not fluent 4 out, soon no danger, 20th of 25, well behind Cape Glory (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hdl in Jun.
Quiet Account (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Mid-division early, chased leaders after 4f, ran freely to lead after 6f, strongly pressed from over 4f out, ridden and disputed 3f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace, lost 3rd closing stages and 6th close home, 6th of 13, 10l behind Big Kern (11-7) at Downpatrick 2m 2f ldy N H flat gd in Jun.
Sharp Rise (IRE) 7-2 (12-2) Ld/disp, hdd 6th, 2nd when mstk 7th, 3rd 4out, 2nd bef last, ld gng best over 150 yards out, row, won at Tallow 3m ire ptp in Feb beating Cooladerry King (12-2) by 7l, 9 ran.
Star Date (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, close up before 2 out, ridden to chase winner before last, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Broughtons Warrior (11-0) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in May.
The Banastoir (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, rider seemed to being having tack problems briefly before 6th, not fluent 7th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression, 5th of 11, 19l behind Royale Django (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jun.
The Chief Villain 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, some progress into moderate 7th 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 13, 47l behind Black Spot On (10-13) at Down Royal 2m mdn hdl in Mar.
Seismic (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Soon raced in 2nd, dropped to 3rd after 3 out and pushed along, no impression when not fluent last, kept on one pace run-in, eased near finish, 4th of 9, 20l behind Smiler (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn hdl gf in Jun.
Gilston Bay 125-1 (10-7) Prominent to before 5th, soon behind, struggling when mistake 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Jawaab (10-11) at Hexham 3m sell (5) gd in Jun, 7 ran.
