chased leader in 2nd, lead briefly over 2f out, soon ridden and headed, kept on same pace inside final furlong
settled in rear, took closer order from over 3f out, switched to outer to challenge from 2f out and soon struck by whip of rival, ridden to lead from 1f out and kept on well inside final furlong
raced in 3rd, dropped to 4th over 3f out, switched to inner over 2f out and soon ridden to challenge, almost on terms under 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong
settled in 4th, improved into 3rd over 3f out, ridden to lead under 2f out, headed 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong
led, ridden from 3f out, headed over 2f out and soon weakened to rear, eased inside final furlong
Galway maiden winner Whiskey Sour was beaten into fourth by Mint Chai in a lucrative nursery at Naas in September and makes his debut on the surface. Restive beat the consistent Stellar Mass at the Curragh but has been well beaten in much better company subsequently. Va Pensiero followed her debut success on this track by landing a Leopardstown handicap but she never really got involved from a 5lb higher mark at Gowran last time. Power Struggle scored over a mile here in October and was never travelling on very testing going at Navan last month. LEX TALIONIS is obviously well regarded as he ran in Group 2 company in his first three starts. He's nowhere near that class but led for a long way over the track and trip last time and this could be his day.
Restive (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Rear of mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden over 2f out and soon no extra, last of 11, 20 1/4l behind Awtaad (9-10) at Curragh 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Mar.
Va Pensiero (IRE) 6-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Champagne Or Water (9-6) at Gowran Park 7f hcp fll gd in Apr.
Whiskey Sour (IRE) 11-1 (9-4) Slightly impeded start, soon raced in 10th, pushed along on outer over 3f out, chased leaders from over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 3 3/4l behind Mint Chai (9-0) at Naas 1m hcp Yielding in Sep.
Power Struggle (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Raced in 2nd, pushed along from 3f out, no extra 1f out, eased closing stages, 9th of 10, 27 1/4l behind Spader (9-7) at Navan 1m 2f hcp Soft - Heavy in Apr.
Lex Talionis (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, led after 2f, driven over 2f out, ridden under 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression on leaders closing stages, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind The Tulip (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Apr.
