soon raced last of the 4, raced wide straight, 3rd over 1f out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace
tracked leader, stuck to far rail straight, ridden over 2f out, no extra and dropped to last from over 1f out
soon raced 3rd of the 4, raced wide and travelled well straight, 2nd and challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
veered right soon after leaving stalls, hit rail, lost considerable ground and pulled up
led, stuck to far rail and niggled along over 2f out, strongly pressed over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner
Four three-year-olds take on the older Northern Rocked here but Dermot Weld's charge has been in such good heart that he'll take some beating. Mawaakef would be an automatic choice on last year's form, which included a second place behind Casamento in a Group 2, but he ran poorly when tried over 1m4f at the Curragh last month and may be best watched for now. Giant Step, an easy winner at Cork in April, couldn't make the transition to Group 2 company at Leopardstown and this is more his grade. Fred Archer finished last of five on his reappearance here in May so it's COPRAH who earns the vote. A progressive type, he beat a big field over 6f at the Curragh last month where he looked as though tonight's trip would be exactly what was required.
Northern Rocked (IRE) 3-1fav (9-9) Soon led, strongly pressed 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, soon no impression, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Blaze Brightly (9-4) at Tipperary 7f stks gf in Apr.
Fred Archer (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Always rear, in touch and pushed along early straight, no impression from 1 12f out, kept on one pace, last of 5, 5l behind Lady Fashion (8-13) at Dundalk 7f 3yo stks pol in May.
Coprah 8-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway in 6th 2f out, ridden into 3rd 1f out, stayed on to lead last 150 yards, kept on well, won at Curragh 6f mdn stks gf in Jun beating Tashqeel (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Giant Step (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, weakened, last of 7, 18l behind Recital (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Mawaakef (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) In rear, took keen hold, never a factor, 16th of 18, 22l behind Gimli's Rock (9-3) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gd in Jun.