tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along early straight and headway on outer into 2nd over 1f out, 3rd and no impression final 100 yards, kept on one pace
dwelt, always rear, pushed along 3f out and no extra early straight, soon weakened, completely tailed off
always prominent, 2nd halfway, pushed along and led over 2f out, soon ridden and 2 lengths clear early final furlong, kept on well
tracked leaders on inner in 3rd, 5th and pushed along under 2f out, some headway between horses over 1f out, 2nd and kept on final 100 yards, no impression on winner
tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd and pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, 4th and no impression final furlong, kept on one pace
soon led, pushed along and headed early straight, soon ridden and dropped to 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Race conditions suit VAFORTINO, who is 6lb clear of his main rival on official ratings but will be receiving weight from them all with his rider's claim taken into consideration. Twice a winner in his first season, he was only narrowly beaten in a Tipperary Listed contest in October and looks the one to beat. His stable companion Liffey River landed a Punchestown maiden in September before finding a Leopardstown Group 2 beyond him a few days later. Roman Empire has more scope than any of them having comfortably landed a course and distance maiden in October. With entries in the early classics he'll need to win this if he's to take his place and Ryan Moore comes over to ride.
Vafortino (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Close up, 4th halfway, good headway to lead narrowly 1 1/2f out, ridden and headed final 100 yards, no extra and dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Ecliptical (9-3) at Naas 7f sft in Oct.
Allez Barza (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, moderate 4th 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Messidor (9-4) at Dundalk 7f pol in Dec.
Erzindjan (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Prominent early, soon chased leaders, 7th 3f out, pushed along on inner over 2f out, soon switched left, impeded over 1f out, no extra after, 7th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Amazed By Grace (8-9) at Curragh 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Laelaps (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Soon prominent, 2nd 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 11, 14 1/4l behind Amazed By Grace (8-9) at Curragh 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Liffey River (FR) 13-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders on inner, hampered after 1 1/2f, 3rd halfway, pushed along and lost place early straight, no extra over 1f out, 7th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Cadillac (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Roman Empire (IRE) 5-2 (9-7) Briefly pushed along from stalls and soon led, pushed along from 2f out and extended advantage from 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 1m mdn Soft - Heavy in Oct beating Mcpherson (9-7) by 2l, 9 ran.
