disputed lead briefly early, soon chased leaders in 4th, pushed along and closed into straight, challenged and on terms over 1f out, gained narrow lead and stayed on well inside final furlong
a little keen, waited with, soon raced in 5th, closed straight, pushed along under 2f out, challenged over 1f out, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong
soon chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along approaching straight, soon closed, challenged and on terms over 1f out, narrowly headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong
disputed lead early, soon led, pressed straight, joined over 1f out, soon headed and no extra, one pace
waited with, soon towards rear and raced in 6th, some headway from before halfway, pushed along before straight, no impression from 2f out
dwelt, waited with in rear, pushed along from early straight, soon no impression, kept on same pace without threatening
prominent, soon 2nd, pushed along approaching straight, soon challenged and every chance until lost position 1f out and kept on without matching principals after
Protagonist has only been here once, scoring over the trip a year ago from 4lb lower. Scott McCullagh's claim puts him in the frame though the two three-year-olds can battle this out. Aurora Princess completed a double at Leopardstown and Gowran before finding an 11lb rise and 1m4f beyond her at the Curragh. BEAR STORY, a winner over a mile at Dundalk, also found 1m4f stretching his stamina in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal where he led at this trip before fading inside the final furlong. He can get back to winning ways as though Miss Myers is running well a strike-rate of 1-22 doesn't inspire confidence.
Protagonist (FR) 3-1fav (9-11) Broke well, tracked leaders on outer, 5th halfway, pushed along and headway early straight, 2nd briefly and ridden 1 1/2f out, 4th and no impression final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 4l behind Dream Tale (8-12) at Limerick 1m hcp gd in Jun.
Miss Myers (IRE) 22-1 (9-6) Dwelt, in rear, pushed along and headway from 2f out, stayed on well without threatening inside final furlong, nearest at finish, 3rd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Longbourn (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Bear Story (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Soon mid-division, headway to challenge and on terms 2f out, headed and one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3 1/4l behind Iowa (8-12) at Down Royal 1m 5f hcp gd in Jun.
Takeachancejimmy (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Waited with, soon towards rear, pushed along approaching straight and headway on outer, kept on same pace without threatening from under 2f out, 9th of 15, 10 1/4l behind Vultan (9-5) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcp Yielding in May.
Indian Sioux (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Waited with in rear early, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, prominent travelling smoothly into straight, soon pushed along, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 3l behind Ottoman Emperor (9-7) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Mandarin (GER) 25-1 (9-10) Slowly away, held up and behind, well beaten over 2f out, 10th of 14, 30 1/4l behind Hint Of Stars (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Aurora Princess (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Prominent, keen, pushed along over 3f out where 5th, soon effort, one pace over 1f out, 7th of 19, 6 3/4l behind Beyond Happy (9-10) at Curragh 1m 4f gd in Jun.
