settled on inner, 6th halfway, headway to challenge between horses 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, headed closing stages
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 5th entering straight, headway to challenge between horses 1f out, kept on under pressure to lead closing stages
led, strongly pressed early straight, headed under 2f out, no extra from 1f out, weakened
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 1 1/2f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, some headway on outer entering straight, no impression under pressure from 1f out, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 5th on outer halfway, 4th entering straight, no extra from 1f out
tracked leader in 2nd, headway to lead under 2f out, strongly pressed and joined 1f out, soon narrowly headed, kept on same pace under pressure
held up in rear, in touch and poised to challenge under 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong without reaching leaders
Priomhbhean won this a year ago when Northgate was very close behind in third, Fighting Brave not too far away in fifth, and the unlucky in-running Mid Mon Lady a place back in sixth. None of them have been in the best of form subsequently though the latter again failed to obtain a clear run in a Group 3 here last time and can come out best of the quartet this time. Rock Critic has been in superb form and ran another tremendous race in the Irish Cambridgeshire but he has a double penalty for his earlier victories which may just rule him out. Also penalised is TAKAPOUR, whose two victories over the C&D make him the one to beat as three-year-olds have a fine record in the race and he's progressing at a rate of knots judging by his latest victory over Regent Street, who was rated 27lb higher but only conceding 2lb.
Rock Critic (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 8th halfway, no impression in 7th over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 21, 5l behind Castle Bar Sling (8-11) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Aug.
Northgate (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden entering straight, no extra from 2f out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Freedom (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Sep.
Priomhbhean (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, 3rd for much, lost place and no extra from before straight, kept on same pace, 9th of 10, 10l behind Zanughan (8-13) at Galway 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Aug.
Fighting Brave (USA) 25-1 (9-13) Mid-division, 8th halfway, driven along in 6th early straight, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Licence To Till (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Sep.
Salute Him (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor, 18th of 20, 15l behind Moyenne Corniche (8-10) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Waydownsouth (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division on inner, 7th halfway, pushed along early straight, no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Licence To Till (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Sep.
Takapour (IRE) 13-2 (9-6) Towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace in straight, won at Dundalk 1m 3f stks pol in Sep beating Regent Street (9-8) by nk, 8 ran.
Mid Mon Lady (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Dwelt and in rear, ridden and headway early straight, forced way between horses and went 4th 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Freedom (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Sep.
Whiteside (IRE) 80-1 (9-5) Mid-division best, weakened entering straight, 16th of 18, 30l behind Tugboat (9-5) at Navan 1m 2f 3yo mdn sft.
