held up towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, progress into closer 5th when pulled up injured before 4 out
tracked leaders on inner, 4th and mistake 5 out, ridden from next, moderate 5th 2 out, moderate 4th at last, kept on without threatening to go 2nd inside final furlong, not trouble winner
tracked leader in 2nd, clear of remainder 3 out, slight mistake and ridden 2 out, soon no impression on winner, dropped to moderate 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders on outer, took keen hold early, ridden in 3rd 3 out, soon weakened
made all, clear with 2nd from 3 out, went clear after 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, eased inside final furlong, , very easily
held up in rear, slight mistake 3rd, moderate last 5 out, ridden in moderate 5th after 3 out, some progress next, moderate 3rd and mistake at last, no extra
Matin D'Anjou has won at Wexford and Tramore this summer but jumped poorly before eventually falling at Kilbeggan last month and has to concede weight all round. Allee Bleue is having a first run for Gordon Elliott following a lay-off. He didn’t manage a win in six starts over fences for Philip Hobbs but was placed three times so goes on the short-list. FINTARA had been going well over fences prior to a recent run over hurdles and is unlikely to be far away and there should be more to come from Special Diamond, who went off much too quickly when 20 lengths behind Matin D'Anjou at Tramore last month but should be approaching peak fitness now.
Matin D'Anjou (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Rear, 9th before 7th, mistake and fell at 10th, at Kilbeggan 3m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
Fintara (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd at 6th, lost position and no extra approaching straight, 18th of 24, dist behind Shadows Return (10-13) at Cork 2m 3f hcp gd in Aug.
Hugo 'n Taz 25-1 (10-7) Held up, soon in rear, pushed along and some headway 8th, no impression from 3 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 14, 21 3/4l behind Vent De La Cote (10-9) at Listowel 3m hcp sft in Sep.
Special Diamond 5-1 (11-3) Led, asserted before 3rd, not fluent at 5th, reduced advantage at 7th, under pressure and headed approaching straight, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 20 1/4l behind Matin D'Anjou (11-7) at Tramore 2m gd in Aug.
Thecraicisninety 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, 10th after 4th, good headway after 2 out, weakened in 3rd approaching straight, eased before last, 8th of 14, 14 1/2l behind Touchedbyanangel (11-8) at Kilbeggan 2m hcp gd in Aug.
Fleurys Fort (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, 6th from halfway, good progress from 2 out and soon briefly disputed lead, headed and dropped to 2nd when pulled up quickly before last, at Kilbeggan 2m 3f hcp gd in Sep.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 11-4fav (12-3) Mistakes, chased winner, jumped slowly 9th, blundered and lost 2nd 12th, soon lost place, rallied 4 out, blundered again 3 out, weakened and no chance after, went left 2 out and last, 6th of 9, 22 1/2l behind Abracadabra Sivola (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
