led early, headed after 2f, tracked leader after, no impression final furlong, kept on same pace
tracked leaders early, led after 2f, stayed on well to assert inside final furlong, comfortably
close up early, soon tracked leaders, 3rd on rail from over 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon tracked leaders, lost place from over 2f out, soon no impression in last
waited with last of the 5, wide straight, ridden to chase leaders in 4th over 1f out, kept on without threatening into 3rd inside final furlong
Cougar Ridge, beaten a short-head in a Group 3 at the Curragh, didn't quite manage to stage a repeat in his subsequent races but won first time out last year and an absence shouldn't be a problem. Dont Bother Me won a Leopardstown maiden and wasn't disgraced in two Group 3s later while Tennessee Wildcat, who made a winning debut here last May, performed with credit at a high level throughout his first campaign. GALE FORCE TEN, beaten less than a length by Reckless Abandon in the Norfolk Stakes, got even closer to that winner in the Middle Park in October and the 2000 Guineas entry can make a successful return. Liberating made a winning start at Cork a year ago and didn't do badly in better company and though Jim Bolger's Wexford Opera was behind the selection at Newmarket he's another with classic aspirations and shouldn't be dismissed.
Dont Bother Me (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Led early, soon tracked leader, challenged and on terms from 2f out, headed and no extra 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 7l behind Big Break (9-0) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Gale Force Ten 33-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Reckless Abandon (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Tennessee Wildcat (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway into 5th 2f out, ridden into 4th 1f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, no impression winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Lines of Battle (9-3) at Dundalk 7f 2yo Listed stks (1) pol in Oct.
Wexford Opera (IRE) 50-1 (8-12) Went right start, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 8l behind Reckless Abandon (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Liberating 25-1 (8-4) Towards rear, some late headway into 10th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 14, 2 3/4l behind Balmont Mast (9-11) at Dundalk 5f lst stks 2yo (1) pol in Oct.
Cougar Ridge (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 10, 5l behind Lines of Battle (9-3) at Dundalk 7f 2yo Listed stks (1) pol in Oct.
