soon tracked leaders, pushed along straight, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, narrowly headed closing stages and kept on well without matching winner
a little keen, mid-division, pushed along straight, soon headway and effort, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
slowly into stride and pushed along, in rear, headway on outer straight, soon pushed along again and one pace from over 1f out
mid-division, pushed along straight, slightly impeded over 2f out, soon switched left and one pace
a little keen and soon prominent, pushed along straight, slightly impeded over 1f out and no extra
soon led, pushed along straight, strongly pressed under 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon impeded and one pace
dwelt, a little keen, towards rear, pushed along straight, soon headway and effort, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong
soon pushed along, towards rear, pushed along again over 3f out, headway and effort straight, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong
loaded without rider, pushed along early, soon prominent and a little keen, pushed along again straight, switched left to challenge between horses over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, gained narrow lead closing stages and stayed on well
soon prominent, pushed along over 3f out, no extra from over 1f out
Sea The Lion bids to win this for the third time in succession though he had a run under his belt in both previous seasons and is 11lb higher than when successful last year. Perfect Tapatino makes most appeal of Joseph O’Brien’s three runners having beaten Massif Central a neck at Cork last time, though the latter is a couple of pounds better off today. Inscribe finished behind the latter pair last time but had beaten both Rockabill and The Last Emperor at Navan before that while Ming steps up in trip along with WAR DIARY. The latter has the more scope handicapping for the first time after making a winning return at Clonmel and he gets the nod with Persian Lion looking high enough in the weights and The Mouse Doctor upped in class.
Sea The Lion (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, 3rd and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 20, 5l behind Muntahaa (9-9) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Massif Central (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, a bit keen, 3rd from halfway, not much room on inner from over 2f out and soon switched to outer, ridden over 1f out and kept on well into 2nd inside final furlong, not reaching winner, 2nd of 10, nk behind Perfect Tapatino (8-13) at Cork 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Ming (IRE) 12-1 (9-13) Held up towards rear, some headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 18, 4 3/4l behind Insignia Of Rank (9-8) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gf in May.
Inscribe (USA) 4-1jfav (9-6) Mid-division and 7th from halfway, pushed along from 2f out and soon ridden in 6th, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 3l behind Perfect Tapatino (8-13) at Cork 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Perfect Tapatino (FR) 7-1 (8-13) Prominent early before settling behind leader in 2nd, ridden from 2f out and soon improved to dispute lead, rider dropped whip 1f out, pushed along and led inside final 100 yards, kept on well close home, won at Cork 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun beating Massif Central (9-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Persian Lion (IRE) 9-2fav (9-8) Chased leaders and 4th from halfway, 3rd from 3f out and soon switched to outer to challenge, ridden in 2nd from 2f out, no impression and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Dalton Highway (8-8) at Curragh 2m hcp gf in May.
The Last Emperor 10-1 (9-7) Awkward from stalls, in rear, closer entering straight, 4th travelling well on outer over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out and no impression inside final furlong, no extra and eased closing stages, 4th of 5, 5l behind Inscribe (9-10) at Navan 1m 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Rockabill 10-3jfav (9-6) Dwelt, towards rear, pushed along before straight, soon headway, ran on without threatening inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Roibeard (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f gd in Jun.
War Diary 4-7fav (9-7) Soon led, almost joined after halfway, went on again straight, stayed on well from over 1f out, comfortably, won at Clonmel 1m 2f mdn Yielding in Apr beating Khafaaq (9-7) by 7l, 13 ran.
The Mouse Doctor (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Raced in 2nd and chased leader early, took closer order approaching halfway, challenged between horses 1 1/2f out, kept on well without matching front pair inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Arthurian Fame (10-10) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
