pushed along early, soon held up, ridden in 5th halfway, no impression in 4th 2f out, no extra 1 1/2f out
dwelt, towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out
jumped slightly awkwardly from stalls, soon led and disputed, headed over 2 1/2f out, ridden in 3rd 1 1/2f out, no extra and kept on one pace
close up and disputed, led over 2 1/2f out, ridden 2f out, kept on strongly to assert final furlong, comfortably
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2 1/2f out, under pressure in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression on winner
jumped awkwardly from stalls, held up, ridden towards rear 3f out, soon no extra
An official mark of 98 probably flatters VEGA MAGNIFO but he was placed in Listed company at Leopardstown in the summer and has been sent here for a confidence-booster. His stable also run Arniemac, who was having only his third start when easily beating a subsequent winner at Killarney back in May. Herculaneum, who went up 16lb for landing a Down Royal handicap in July, looks the only logical danger to Joseph O'Brien's pair.
Arniemac (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and led 2f out, ridden and 2 lengths clear 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Killarney 1m mdn Good - Yielding in May beating Fernao (9-9) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Herculaneum (IRE) 15-2 (11-13) Mid-division, headway 4f out, 4th and pushed along 3f out, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 5th over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Dartan (12-2) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp Good - Yielding in Aug.
Lockdown 50-1 (9-1) Mid-division in far side group, lost place 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 17, 11l behind Arnhem (9-11) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Aug.
Vega Magnifico (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, under pressure and lost place over 2f out, weakened under 2f out, 20th of 22, 11 1/4l behind Coeur d'Or (9-12) at Curragh 1m gd in Aug.
Mater Matuta (IRE) 9-2cfav (11-10) Soon led and clear before 3rd, 15 lengths lead halfway, reduced advantage after 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, 4th and no extra run-in, 4th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Applejack Poet (11-8) at Bellewstown 2m 1f hcp gd in Aug.
Indulging 25-1 (9-9) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden under 3f out, no extra in 3rd over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 22 1/2l behind This Songisforyou (9-9) at Clonmel 1m 2f mdn gd in Sep.
Knock Flyer (IRE) 250-1 (11-12) Always behind, never a factor, 15th of 16, dist behind Barry Lyndon (11-12) at Punchestown 2m mdn Good - Yielding in May.
