held up in rear, took keen hold, 5th and closed approaching 3 out, soon beaten
led, ridden after 3 out, headed flat, no extra and demoted to 4th towards finish
not fluent and ran in snatches, well beaten approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up, closed from 7th, ridden after 3 out, hard driven flat, unable to quicken, stayed on close home
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 2 out, soon driven, unable to quicken last, stayed on towards finish, no impression on winner
tracdked leaders, went 2nd 7th, mistakes 3 out and 2 out, led flat, driven out
pulled hard and wandering at the hurdles, tracked leader approaching 2nd until 5th, lost place after next, well beaten approaching 3 out, tailed off
This is a tight looking affair where many have claims. Meet The Critics has won two Irish points races before and with Aidan Coleman in the saddle and potentially more to come from this relatively unexposed sort over hurdles he could defy the critics. The market will provide the guide to Salford Rose on jumps debut and similar sentiments are true of Foynes Island who makes a first start under rules. Ezdiyaad showed plenty of ability on the flat when he was with Marcus Tregoning and has claims if displaying jumping ability but preference is for GAMBO. The pick has improved with each start and only narrowly lost out at Ffos Las most recently. With potentially better to come here and from a respected yard he gets the vote. A big run can be expected from Mutadarrej who is a decent versatile performer with wins on the flat and very good placed efforts over hurdles, particularly last time out at Stratford. Tony McCoy is in the saddle and has to be considered but we tentatively side with Gambo.
Ezdiyaad (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 1l behind Once More Dubai (9-8) at Leicester 1m 4f cond Stakes (3) gf in Oct (flat).
Meet The Critics (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led until after 2nd, with leader, led 6th, soon headed, weakened 3 out, 10th of 12, 47l behind Mostly Bob (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Mulranny (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 15, 31l behind Rudanphast (11-8) at Hereford 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Aug.
Mutadarrej (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up in last pair, jumped right and mistake 1st, jumped right next, hit 6th, headway after 8th, challenged next, driven to lead bend approaching 2 out, jumped big last, headed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Theologist (10-12) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf.
Foynes Island (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Alw pr, rdn to ld last, kow, won at Ballingarry 3m ire ptp sft in Jun beating The Baler (11-7) by 1l, 10 ran.
Gambo (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Took keen hold in 6th, headway before 3 out, hung left from 2 out, chased winner before last, hung left strong challenge and upsides 150 yards out, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Russian War (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Salford Rose (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Pulled hard, soon tracked leader until inside final mile, stayed chasing leaders and kept on final 2f, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Saint Luke (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (5) gd in Aug.
Flying Squad (UAE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, not fluent and weakened 2 out, 4th of 13, 23l behind Drill Sergeant (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
It's Molly 100-1 (9-12) Always last, jumped left, 12th of 13, well behind Factotum (11-5) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun '09.
Tooney Malooney 33-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and outpaced 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 27l behind With Grace (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f N H flat (5) gd in May.
