chased leaders on far side, headway to dispute lead 2f out, ridden and led 1 1/2f out, drifted left under pressure under 1f out, stayed on well on stands' rail close home
chased leaders on stands' side, rail, short of room from 2f out, unable to find racing room and eased inside final furlong
in rear, 8th 2f out, soon pushed along and some progress, checked 1f out, ridden and kept on without threatening final furlong
chased leaders, 4th and briefly short of room 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
rear of mid-division, pushed along in 7th 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride and in rear, effort under 2f out, ridden on outer final furlong, no extra
mid-division, closer in 5th 2f out, soon ridden, 4th 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on under pressure
mid-division on inner, ridden from 2f out, no impression final furlong
broke well and led, pushed along and joined 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, close enough 2nd when checked under 1f out, soon dropped to 3rd, ridden and stayed on again close home
Ger Lyons has won the last two of these and relies on Velveteen, who landed a maiden over 6f here that has worked out well. Yulong Baobei had almost four lengths to spare over Swish in a Tipperary Listed contest and though the latter has since won at Dundalk he's unlikely to reverse the form. SPORTSMANSHIP landed a 6f Leopardstown maiden before finishing fourth in what looked a very strong Molecombe Stakes at Goodwood won by Yalta. He would appreciate another furlong here but still looks the one to be on. His stable companion Leo Minor drops down to this trip for the first time but has plenty of basic speed.
Hit The Bid 25-1 (9-3) Soon towards rear, pushed along and no impression in last 1 1/2f out, 8th from 1f out, kept on same pace, 7th of 9, 14l behind Caravaggio (9-3) at Curragh 5f lst stks (1) Yielding - Soft in May.
Leo Minor (USA) 7-4fav (9-0) Soon led, 2 lengths clear 1 1/2f out, driven over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, ridden closing stages where reduced advantage, won at Naas 6f gd in Aug beating Noivado (9-0) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Sportsmanship (USA) 11-2 (9-1) Held up, in touch, headway over 1f out, 4th and one pace final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Yalta (9-1) at Goodwood 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Giselle's Charm (IRE) Evensfav (9-2) Tracked leaders, 5th 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out and led 150 yards out, kept on under pressure, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Noble Dancer (8-11) at Down Royal 5f gd in Jul.
Mayleaf Shine (IRE) 2-1fav (9-3) In rear, pushed along in 6th over 2f out, progress to 4th 1 1/2f out, 3rd 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on strongly to lead final 100 yards, kept on best, won at Tipperary 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug beating Hueston (8-4) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Miss Cogent (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Broke well to lead, ridden 1 1/2f out, headed over 1f out, soon ridden, dropped to 3rd final 150 yards, no extra, 5th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Mayleaf Shine (9-3) at Tipperary 5f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Mur Hiba (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 2f out, pushed along 1 1/2f out, led under 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, reduced lead close home, won at Curragh 5f mdn gf in Aug beating Blitz (9-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Swish (IRE) Evensfav (8-8) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, switched right under 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, led final 150 yards, kept on well, won at Dundalk 5f mdn pol in Aug beating Red Sabor (8-13) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Velveteen 9-2 (9-0) Broke well to lead far side group, ridden under 2f out, pressed under 1f out, kept on strongly, won at Curragh 6f mdn fll gd in Jul beating Hunaina (9-0) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
Yulong Baobei (IRE) 11-10fav (8-12) Made all, soon crossed to stand's rail, ridden 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Tipperary 5f lst stks (1) Yielding in Jul beating Swish (8-12) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
Pious Alexander (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 9th halfway, progress into 3rd over 1f out, ridden and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Intelligence Cross (9-5) at Curragh 6f mdn Yielding in Jun.
