in rear, switched right early straight, closed and not much room 2f out, switched right again to outer from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, stayed on well, easily
soon raced in 4th, no impression from over 1f out, one pace
soon raced in 5th, pushed along before straight, challenged and led 1f out, headed and one pace inside final furlong
soon raced in 2nd, took keen hold, almost on terms from halfway, pushed along 2f out, 2nd 1f out, no extra and one pace final furlong
towards rear, pushed along from 4f out, raced on outer straight, no impression from 2f out, eased inside final furlong
dwelt and edged slightly right out of stalls, soon raced in 3rd and took keen hold, no impression from over 1f out, eased closing stages
Aidan O'Brien had six of the 13 original entries and has left half of them in. AFONSO DE SOUSA has Joseph on board and was in very good form at this time a year ago. He hasn't been seen since the opening fixture of the Flat season in March but that's rarely a problem for one of Ballydoyle's and he can score his second track victory. Nonchalant hasn't had much experience and finished last of four at Tipperary last time when Long Journey Home was beaten less than 2l into second. Hold The Line is just as capable of finishing last as winning and has yet to reach a place in five starts on the all-weather, though most were at Meydan.
Afonso De Sousa (USA) 12-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, eased final furlong, 19th of 21, 36l behind Stuccodor (9-9) at Curragh 1m pren hcp in Mar.
Festive Cheer (FR) 11-2 (9-5) Held up in last, ridden 4f out, no impression 3f out, eased before straight, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Forgotten Rules (9-5) at Galway 1m 6f stks gd in Aug.
Hold The Line (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Always towards rear, ridden 3f out, soon no impression, never a factor, last of 9, 37l behind Vintage Nouveau (8-10) at Listowel 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd.
Long Journey Home (IRE) 4-1 (9-8) Led, ridden 1 1/2f out, under pressure and headed 1f out, kept on same pace 100 yards out, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Ebasani (9-5) at Tipperary 1m 1f stks gf in Aug.
Nonchalant 7-4 (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, niggled along 3f out, ridden entering straight, dropped to 4th 1 1/2f out, no threat final furlong, last of 4, 5l behind Ebasani (9-5) at Tipperary 1m 1f stks gf in Aug.
Warbird 15-2 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 9th of 13, 13l behind Shalamzar (7-11) at Listowel 1m 1f hcp gd.
Indian Maharaja (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Mid-division, pushed along and no extra in rear entering straight, last of 10, 37l behind Free Eagle (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf.
