broke well and settled in 3rd, pushed along to go 2nd 1f out, no impression on winner and kept on same pace inside final furlong
settled towards rear, 5th halfway, pushed along in 4th 2f out, soon no extra, eased when beaten final furlong
settled towards rear, went 4th halfway, no impression from over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway on outer under 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
always prominent, disputed lead before halfway, led well over 1f out, driven out and kept on well final furlong
soon led, joined before halfway, pressed and headed well over 1f out, soon no extra, kept on one pace
Aidan O'Brien has won this four times in the past eight years and relies on Sing Softly, who has fitness on her side after beating a big field of maidens here two weeks ago. She has entries in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and here and should prove better than the other with recent winning form, Defining Year, who scrambled home in a handicap a fortnight ago. Jim Bolger runs Leopardstown nursery winner Deire Na Sli and the maiden GLOR NA MARA but there will be some head scratching if the latter is beaten here. A dual 2000 Guineas entry, he came up against the likes of Zoffany, Pathfork and Frankel in his six starts last term, three of them at the highest level, and offers a chance to revue the form of last year's top juveniles.
Defining Year (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Settled in mid-division, headway into 4th under 2f out, challenged 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, won at Curragh 7f 3yo ext hcp sft in Mar beating Adilapour (9-7) by shd, 13 ran.
Glor Na Mara (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Hampered start, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Frankel (9-1) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Triple Eight (IRE) 11-4 (9-6) Chased leader in 2nd throughout, no impression from 2f out, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Seville (8-10) at Tipperary 7f 2yo stk sft in Oct.
Deire Na Sli (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, headway in 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 7f 2yo hcp sft in Oct beating Madeira Man (8-3) by 3l, 9 ran.
Sing Softly (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Prominent on stand side, driven along over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well closing stages, won at Curragh 6f mdn stks sft in Mar beating Rose Bonheur (9-0) by 2l, 27 ran.
Tell The Wind (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Close up in 3rd, led 1 1/2f out, headed under 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Knock Stars (8-8) at Naas 6f 2yo hcp gd in Oct.
Imperial Rome (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Soon led, travelling well early straight, shaken up 1 1/2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn stks pol in Nov beating Narjawa (8-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
