soon mid-division on outer, closer in 6th halfway, progress into 4th 4f out, ridden into 3rd 2f out, no impression in 5th entering straight, 4th 1f out, kept on one pace
mid-division, ridden 3f out, no impression in 6th entering straight, kept on one pace
always towards rear, ridden and no impression over 3f out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, no impression 2f out, stayed on into 8th 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 5th halfway, progress into 3rd 4f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong and headed last 50 yards
soon chased leaders, 3rd halfway, 6th 4f out, ridden and no extra 3f out
chased leader, disputed halfway, ridden in 2nd 3f out, 6th 2f out, soon no extra
led, disputed halfway, ridden over 3f out, headed 2f out, under pressure in 3rd entering straight, no extra final furlong
held up towards rear, progress into 5th 2f out, ridden in 4th entering straight, stayed on in 3rd 1f out, kept on to press leader inside final furlong and led last 50 yards
chased leaders early, soon mid-division, progress into 5th 3f out, ridden in 7th 2f out, no impression and kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden over 2f out, stayed on into 2nd entering straight, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace in 3rd
This is a tough race to be putting up inexperienced riders but Aidan O'Brien has no hesitation in doing so with his son Donnacha on board El Salvador and daughter Ana on Egyptian Warrior. The former won a couple of minor races before beaten in a three-horse race at Dundalk and will be much more at home here while the latter was just touched off by tonight's rival Strandfield Lady at Leopardstown when the winner was completing a double. PANAMA HAT is going from strength-to-strength and though three of his recent four victories have been over 1m2f he's just at home over this trip. Not surprisingly he's up 11lb for his latest easy success but can stretch his winning sequence to five. Show Court, not beaten far on very heavy ground here a year ago, will be spot-on after a pipe-opener at the Curragh and Tooreen Legend was only caught in the shadows of the post by Zeftan at the Curragh when the winner was receiving 18lb - he may prove the main threat in an open handicap.
El Salvador (IRE) 15-8 (10-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along over 3f, ridden over 2f out and soon no impression, kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Manalapan (9-9) at Down Royal 1m 5f stks gf in Jul.
Lady Giselle (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden under 3f out, no impression 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Eighteen Summers (8-5) at Cork 1m 2f hcp in May.
Stony Grey (IRE) 7-1 (8-5) Chased leader in 5th, ridden approaching straight and no extra from 2f out, weakened, 13th of 18, 18l behind Sir Ector (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp sft in Nov.
Egyptian Warrior (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Settled in mid-division, 7th halfway, progress straight and edged left 1 1/2f out, challenged inside final furlong, kept on well, just failed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Strandfield Lady (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gf in Jul.
Show Court (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) Held up in touch early, progress on outer over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened from 2f out, last of 6, 12l behind Breathe Easy (8-13) at Curragh 1m 1f hcp gf in Jul.
Strandfield Lady (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Led, headed after 3f, 3rd halfway, switched left 1 1/2f out and progress to lead 100 yards out, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f hcp gf in Jul beating Egyptian Warrior (9-4) by hd, 11 ran.
Tooreen Legend (IRE) 7-2fav (12-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd after halfway, ridden to chase leader 3f out, improved to dispute lead 1f out, stayed on well, headed near finish, 2nd of 16, hd behind Zeftan (10-11) at Curragh 1m 4f ldy hcp gf in Jun.
Ned's Indian (IRE) 14-1 (8-3) Held up in 5th, 4th over 6f out, improved into 2nd over 2f out, briefly led 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Chance To Dance (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Artful Artist (IRE) 11-8fav (8-6) Chased clear leader, 5th halfway ridden to close early straight and went 3rd 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind General Brook (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Eric The Grey (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Reared start and slowly away, headway over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 41l behind Totalize (9-7) at Pontefract 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy in Oct.
Cliff House (IRE) 6-1 (8-8) Chased leader, 4th halfway, pushed along in 3rd entering straight, under pressure and no impression on leader over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Chance To Dance (9-3) at Cork 1m 4f pren hcp gf in Jun.
Dark Crusader (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Mid-division, driven over 2f out, never reached leaders, 10th of 19, 15l behind Angel Gabrial (8-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Teoirim (IRE) 5-2 (9-9) Chased leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 4f out, ridden and led 2f out, soon went clear, stayed on strongly final furlong, very easily, won at Fairyhouse 1m 2f app stks gf in Jul beating Gentry (8-6) by 3l, 5 ran.
Panama Hat 5-4fav (9-8) Pushed along early and soon led, ridden to assert over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Naas 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul beating Stronger Than Me (9-13) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
