chased leader, led after 2f, clear after 4f, reduced advantage 3f out, ridden and challenged 2f out, soon disputed, headed inside final furlong and no extra closing stages
chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, 5th 3f out, ridden and no impression entering straight
led, headed after 2f, moderate 2nd halfway, 3rd 3f out, travelled best 2f out, ridden to dispute 1f out, drifted slightly left, no extra close home
chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, soon disputed, edged ahead inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure, pressed close home
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and no impression 3f out
mid-division, niggled along early, ridden and no extra over 3f out
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden in moderate 6th 3f out, no impression
mid-division, moderate 5th halfway, closer in 4th 3f out, ridden entering straight, under pressure 2f out, kept on final furlong, pressed winner close home
Battle Hymn is the only one of these to have run on the surface and produced a much improved effort behind the odds-on Wolf In The Desert a fortnight ago. The winner is trained by Paul Deegan, who has Sinndar Desert entered here and his pedigree suggests he was always likely to do better in his second season. NO WUNDER should take this as though he showed little in his first two starts it was a different matter when attempting to make all over a mile at the Curragh. He couldn't handle Obliterator at the finish but the winner is highly regarded and entered in the 2000 Guineas and Irish Derby. Westpieser is bred for middle-distances and there's every chance she'll make good progress this season so she has to be on the short-list.
Battle Hymn 14-1 (9-5) Dwelt, progress to lead briefly after 2f, tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd entering straight and soon ridden, no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Wolf In The Desert (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn stks pol.
Benny Blanco (IRE) Big Bad Bob gelding out of Dona Alba.
No Wunder 14-1 (9-5) Soon led, reduced lead over 1f out, headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Obliterator (9-5) at Curragh 1m mdn stks gd in Sep.
Sinndar Desert 16-1 (9-5) Waited with, soon 6th, no impression from under 2f out, moderate 4th 1f out, soon moderate 3rd and kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Kingfisher (9-5) at Killarney 1m mdn stks gd in Aug.
Temkin Medicean colt out of Russian Dance.
Tonton Macoute (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Dwelt, soon mid-division, pushed along in 8th halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out, 10th of 11, 8l behind Billboard (9-5) at Roscommon 7f 2yo mdn aut gd in Aug.
Love The Feeling (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Jinked badly leaving stalls and unseated rider, in a race won by Iveagh Gardens (9-0) at Curragh 6f mdn stks, 20 ran.
Westpieser (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Soon chased leaders, pushed along after 3f, moderate 5th approaching straight, 6th and no impression over 1f out, swished tail under 1f out, kept on same pace into 4th closing stages, 4th of 9, 9l behind Cristal Fashion (8-11) at Navan 1m 2yo flls mdn auc stks sft in Oct.
