mid-division, ridden along and 5th over 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace inside final furlong
chased leaders in mid-division, ridden in 6th well over 1f out, 4th inside final furlong and kept on same pace
made all, ridden well over 1f out and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held on well
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and lost place over 1f out, no extra
chased leaders in mid-division, 6th halfway, pushed along and no extra 2f out, weakened
slowly away and settled in rear, good headway on far side to go 3rd 1f out, soon ridden and kept on inside final furlong, no impression under pressure final 50 yards
tracked leaders in 4th, driven along 2f out and no extra over 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders in 5th, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression on winner closing stages
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along in 4th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Last year's winner Excelebration is by far the best horse to have scored in recent years and Aidan O'Brien runs Nephrite this time. Unbeaten in two juvenile runs, he flopped on his return on this track a year ago and hasn't been seen since but entries in Group races suggest connections still believe in him. Lily's Angel returns from Dubai where she made a winning debut on Tapeta in January before finishing fourth in a Group 2. She's a very smart filly who should go well as should La Collina, who ended the last campaign running well at Group 1 level. YELLOW ROSEBUD and Lady Wingshot are very closely matched in their three runs against each other last season but the former just gets the vote after a pipe-opener on heavy ground here last month. Foxtrot Romeo hasn't had much experience and has scope for further improvement.
Arnold Lane (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind United Color (9-3) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp in Feb.
Bold Thady Quill (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway into 4th 1 1/2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, edged ahead final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Cork 6f Listed stks (1) hvy in Mar beating Cape Of Approval (9-7) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Custom Cut (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden and close up 2f out, under pressure in 6th 1 1/2f out, no extra and weakened, 16th of 20, 22l behind Sweet Lightning (9-8) at Curragh 1m Extended Handicap (4yo+) hvy in Mar.
Foxtrot Romeo (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 10l behind Libranno (9-4) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Lady Wingshot (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Settled 4th, smooth headway under 2f out, led over 1f out, soon quickened clear, easily, won at Leopardstown 7f Listed stks (1) sft in Nov beating Ondeafears (9-1) by 4l, 10 ran.
Nephrite 4-9fav (9-6) Held up in rear, smooth progress to go 3rd over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Requisition (9-3) at Curragh 7f 3yo lst stk (1) in Apr '12.
Yellow Rosebud (IRE) 8-11fav (10-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along 2f out, ridden into 2nd 1f out, no impression winner final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Rehn's Nest (8-9) at Curragh 1m flls Group 3 stks (1) hvy in Mar.
La Collina (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Siyouma (9-3) at Newmarket 1m flls Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Lily's Angel (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) 4th of 7, 11l behind Sajjhaa (9-3) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 2 flls (1) gd in Feb.
