towards rear, effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, headway under stand side rail 2f out, one pace final furlong
keen, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakening when short of room approaching final furlong
close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
made all, ridden and ran on final furlong
close up, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd near finish
dwelt, in rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, no impression final furlong
prominent until ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
There had been six successful favourites, three of them trained by Aidan O'Brien, before Marcel's shock victory last year. O'Brien has set his stall out to win it again with three entries, though YUCATAN looks comfortably the stable pick. A maiden winner at the Curragh from an odds-on stable companion, he gave supporters of another stablemate Capri a real fright in a Group 2 on the same track and with more to come looks the one to beat. Rivet won the 7f Group 2 Champagne Stakes here last month and though unable make the step up to the highest level in the Dewhurst ran well enough to get into the frame here. Salouen stepped out of novice company to finish runner-up in the Grand Criterium at Chantilly, although he was well beaten at the finish. Sir Dancealot overcame trouble in-running to land a York Listed contest, though that was over 6f.
Bay Of Poets (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Keen, headway to tracked leaders over 6f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra, last of 8, 9 1/4l behind Best Of Days (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Brutal (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Settled 3rd, niggled along under 3f out, improved to 2nd and ridden 1 1/2f out, good headway to lead over 1f out, asserted under 1f out, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m mdn gf in Aug beating Diodorus (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Contrapposto (IRE) 5-2 (9-5) Chased leader, led over 5f out, clear when shaken up inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) gs in Oct beating Al Zaman (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Finn McCool (IRE) 10-11fav (9-5) Tracked leader, on terms straight, led 2f out, joined over 1f out, edged ahead and stayed on best inside final furlong, won at Navan 1m mdn Good - Yielding in Oct beating Harbour Beacon (9-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Raheen House (IRE) 4-7fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well, won at York 1m mdn stks (3) gd in Oct beating Native Prospect (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Rivet (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, held up, tracking leaders in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Churchill (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Salouen (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind National Defense (8-13) at Chantilly 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Sir Dancealot (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon switched left, held up, in rear, not clear run over 2f out, switched left and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at York 6f lst stks (1) gd in Oct beating Dream Of Dreams (9-1) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
The Anvil (IRE) 11-4fav (9-1) Held up, towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right and went 3rd inside final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Best Solution (9-1) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Yucatan (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 4th 2f out, soon ridden, 3rd 1f out, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Capri (9-3) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) hvy in Sep.
