Fantoche tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, close 6th on inner 2f out, 4th 1 1/2f out, ridden into 2nd 1f out, stayed on to narrow lead last 100yds, kept on well
Salute Him led, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, narrowly headed last 100yds, no extra close home
Ragged Staff mid-division, 7th 2f out, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on well to challenge inside final furlong, no extra close home
Definate Spectacle chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, no extra in 4th over 1f out, kept on same pace
The Bogberry held up towards rear, headway into 4th on outer 2f out, ridden in 6th and no extra 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace
Athlumney Lad held up towards rear, headway into 3rd 3f out, ridden in 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra
Amarjit chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, soon no extra and weakened
Mutakarrim chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and dropped to rear 4f out, soon no impression
Analyis of the race
A slow early pace in this torrential rain led to a race where most of them had a chance in the straight.
FANTOCHE was close to the pace the whole way and Willie Supple was forced to take the brave man's route up the inside rail in the straight. Itworked out beautifully for him as he got the required gap on the inside and the horse responded well to get up close home.
Salute Him was the horse for money and looked an intriguing runner. He almost took advantage. He led soon after the start and gradually increased the tempo inside the final half mile, and when the challengers lined up in the straight he kept responding. If he had managed to get the inside rail, it obviously would have made a big difference.
The rain certainly seemed to comeat the wrong time for Ragged Staff. Fran Berry was content to sit off the pace early before closing up to challenge over a furlong out. He ran on well but the combination of the slowing ground and the handicapper took its toll.
Definate Spectacle ran a similar race with Ragged Staff as when they met at Roscommon a couple of weeks back. He raced quite keenly in the front rank for most of the journey, was being pushed along over two furlongs out to stay there but was just unable to sustain it and paid a little bit for his early exertions inside the final furlong.
Held up out the back, Athlumney Lad was ridden into contention before the turn into the straight and he was there in the centre of the track with a chance over a furlong out before weakening.
The other two were well beaten. Top-weight Mutakarrim weakened early in the straight after being quite handy early on, while Amarjit chased the early lead before dropping away inside the last two furlongs. (JOH)
Tote
Tote Win: 8.2
Tote place (1): 1.7
Tote place (2): 1.8
Tote place (3): 1.7
Exacta: 40.3
CSF: 37.2
Tricast: 109.5
Total SP: 124
Further Information
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