tracked leaders in 4th, challenged under 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, just failed
mid-division, dropped towards rear before halfway, pushed along and no impression under 2f out
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd early straight and ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, just held on
soon led, joined halfway and headed approaching straight, led again 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ran freely, progress early straight and not clear run in 4th over 1f out, switched right and kept on inside final furlong
prominent and tracked leader in 2nd, disputed halfway, pushed along to lead approaching straight, headed 2f out and no impression in 5th over 1f out, no extra
mid-division, pushed along entering straight and no impression in 6th 1f out, kept on one pace
towards rear, pushed along early straight and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
settled towards rear, pushed along in 8th early straight, ridden and kept on same pace to go 5th inside final furlong
Aidan O'Brien has had just one winner this campaign before today but will be hoping to put things right in the opener then follow up here. He certainly looks determined to land this one with three entries of which JOHANN STRAUSS stands out. Sent to Newmarket for his debut, he ran well enough to be considered a certainty on his next start at Naas but was beaten by Sniper. He showed that to be all wrong when runner-up to Kingston Hill in the Racing Post Trophy and he's entered in every big race between now and June. There'll be some long faces if he's beaten and the main threat could come from his stablemate Table Rock, who looked a potentially useful type when just failing to catch Ebanoran at the Curragh in October. Fiscal Focus has shown plenty of potential, especially when runner-up to Adelaide over this course and distance in October, so he's likely to get into the money. Timiyan is bred to stay a bit further than this but can't be dismissed with his yard going well and Boqa ran well on his debut over 7f here in November where he was going on nicely at the finish.
Boqa (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Settled in rear of mid-division and 9th halfway, pushed along and went 6th early straight, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Blue Hussar (9-5) at Leopardstown 7f mdn stks sft in Nov.
Derulo (IRE) Arakan colt out of Bratislava.
Fiscal Focus (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden to lead under 2f out, headed 150 yards out and no impression on winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Adelaide (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn stks sft in Oct.
Illusive (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Under pressure from early, towards rear, 10th on outer over 2f out, soon no impression, last of 13, 21l behind Obliterator (9-5) at Curragh 1m mdn stks gd in Sep.
Johann Strauss 9-1 (9-0) In rear, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to winner, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Kingston Hill (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Le Troisieme Gris (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Prominent racing keenly and settled back in 4th, ridden and no extra early straight, weakened, last of 10, 24l behind Adelaide (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn stks sft in Oct.
Les Darcy 100-1 (8-9) Went left leaving stalls and in rear, adrift in last entering straight, no impression on leaders under hands and heels from 2f out, last of 5, 13l behind Bint Dandy (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3yo mdn auc stks pol in Mar.
Mr Snagsby (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, 6th approaching straight, ridden to go 4th over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 7l behind Wolf In The Desert (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn stks pol in Mar.
Starchitect (IRE) Sea The Stars gelding out of Humilis.
Timiyan (USA) Ghostzapper colt out of Timarwa.
Table Rock (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, headway to go 2nd inside final furlong and challenged final 100 yards, kept on under pressure but not reach winner, 2nd of 14, hd behind Ebanoran (9-5) at Curragh 7f 2yo mdn gd in Oct.
