chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved into 2nd 1 1/2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, kept on final furlong to lead final 50 yards
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, improved to lead halfway, ridden and strongly pressed 1f out, kept on, headed final 50 yards, no extra close home
held up, ridden under 2f out, 5th over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, kept on into 4th closing stages
held up towards rear, progress into 4th 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th closing stages
soon led, headed halfway, ridden 1 1/2f out, under pressure in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong into 3rd closing stages
Flight Risk was a 50/1 chance when landing this a year ago and will be better for his run behind Bobby's Kitten at Cork on Monday, though was beaten a long way. Ryan Moore's presence on Dick Whittington suggests the 2014 Phoenix Stakes winner is the more forward of the Aidan O'Brien trio, though he hasn't run since the Greenham at Newbury a year ago. Cougar Mountain has the stronger form having won a Leopardstown Group 3 in August but the form pick has to be ENDLESS DRAMA. Ger Lyons' colt scored on his racecourse debut as a juvenile and his three second spots last season included a superb second to Gleneagles in the Irish 2000 Guineas here, though he hasn't run since. Gordon Lord Bryon will enjoy the soft ground more than most and likes the track while Sruthan, who was fourth in this a year ago, reappeared with an impressive victory in the Lincoln Handicap here.
Cougar Mountain (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, outpaced 3f out, never on terms, ridden and weakened over 1f out soon eased, tailed off, last of 7, 27 1/4l behind Arabian Queen (8-9) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost place inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Big Baz (9-4) at Kempton 1m lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Onenightidreamed (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Mid-division, 11th halfway, pushed along and no impression under 2f out, 10th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 7th close home, 7th of 22, 10 1/4l behind Sruthan (9-6) at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Dick Whittington (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up in last pair, headway under pressure over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, went modest 4th towards finish, never going pace to threaten, 4th of 9, 8l behind Muhaarar (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr.
Flight Risk (IRE) 7-2 (9-12) Prominent, challenged travelling smoothly from over 2f out, soon on terms, pushed along under 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Bobby's Kitten (9-7) at Cork 6f lst stks (1) hvy in Mar.
Sruthan (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, progress travelling well under 2f out and led 1f out, ridden to assert and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Aussie Valentine (9-0) by 4 1/4l, 22 ran.
The Happy Prince (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Held up, 7th halfway, progress on outer under 2f out and 3rd 1f out, ridden and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Sovereign Debt (9-12) at Leopardstown 7f lst stks (1) gd in Oct.
Joailliere (IRE) 7-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression in 3rd 150 yards out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Queen Blossom (8-9) at Curragh 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Endless Drama (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Rear of mid-division on outer, progress into 6th on outer 2f out, soon ridden, went 2nd 1 1/2f out, dropped to 3rd under 1f out, kept on without threatening winner to regain 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Gleneagles (9-0) at Curragh 1m Grp 1 (1) Good - Yielding in May.
