tracked leaders, 6th halfway, ridden under 2f out and went 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to lead over 1f out, ridden to assert over 100 yards out, kept on well
led, pushed along 2f out, headed and dropped to 4th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headed by winner over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression in 3rd final 100 yards
in rear, 7th halfway, pushed along in 5th over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong to go 4th close home
mid-division, 5th halfway, pushed along and dropped to rear over 2f out, no extra, weakened
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and no impression in 6th 1 1/2f out, no extra
Dermot Weld has won the last two of these but Embiran is taking a big leap in class after his maiden victory over the disappointing Stellar Mass on this track. Round Two landed a Listed contest over 5f here last May but hasn't been seen since a disappointing defeat when favourite for the Coventry Stakes where he possibly found the fast ground against him. He has plenty of Group 1 entries so shouldn't be written off yet. Awtaad deserves this step up in class after a comprehensive victory in a course and distance handicap on soft ground in March but the form pick has to be BLUE DE VEGA. Colin Keane steered Michael O'Callaghan's charge to an impressive Group 3 victory at Leopardstown in October and keeps the ride. Alphonsus had no answer to Washington DC at Dundalk but can come out best of the remainder.
Blue De Vega (GER) 11-10fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, a little keen, 3rd halfway, travelling smoothly from 2f out, pushed along to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong and soon asserted, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Tribal Beat (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Awtaad (IRE) 5-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress to lead under 2f out, ridden 1f out and drew clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Curragh 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Theodorico (9-1) by 5l, 11 ran.
Collision Course (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Led, ridden and strongly pressed 2f out, headed 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Bravery (9-5) at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Apr.
Embiran (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) Broke well, tracked leaders, 6th halfway, switched left 2f out and progress to challenge 1f out, ridden to lead 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Curragh 1m mdn Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Stellar Mass (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 25 ran.
Pacodali (IRE) 11-10fav (9-0) Prominent early, disputed lead after 2f, pushed along and headed 2f out, soon ridden, no impression on winner final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 7 1/2l behind The Moore Factor (9-0) at Gowran Park 7f mdn hvy in Apr.
Roibeard (IRE) 11-8fav (9-5) Settled 3rd, driven 2 1/2f out, weakened 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, eased closing stages, 8th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Last Waltz (8-11) at Roscommon 7f gd in Aug.
Round Two (IRE) 9-4fav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 17, 10 1/4l behind Buratino (9-1) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Alphonsus 7-1 (9-3) Held up in 6th, closer in 5th 2f out, soon ridden, close 5th over 1f out, went 2nd 1f out, kept on without threatening winner final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Washington Dc (9-3) at Dundalk 7f lst stks (1) pol in Apr.
