broke well, tracked leader, 2nd halfway, progress to lead 2f out, ridden to assert and 2 lengths clear over 1f out, headed over 150 yards out, no impression on winner
in rear, 7th halfway, some progress entering straight and 5th under 2f out, no impression from 1f out, kept on one pace
soon led, pushed along and headed 2f out, ridden and no impression in 3rd over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 1 1/2f out and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and progress to lead over 150 yards out, ridden and kept on well
held up towards rear, 6th halfway, pushed along into 5th over 1f out, ridden to go 3rd 150 yards out, kept on
chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, ridden and dropped to rear over 1f out, kept on one pace
David O’Meara’s Custom Cut is back for more having won last year’s renewal. He hasn’t scored subsequently but is still preferred to Gordon Lord Byron, Sruthan and Flight Risk of the older horses. However, today’s outcome appears to hinge on whether AWTAAD can rediscover his best. A disappointment in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood when fast ground may have been a legitimate excuse, he’ll take the beating if back to the level that saw him beat Galileo Gold to win the Irish 2000 Guineas back in May. Hit It A Bomb was having his first start of the year when a couple of lengths behind Tribal Beat over track and trip last month and the Ballydoyle colt is an obvious danger if building on that.
Custom Cut (IRE) 10-3fav (9-3) Tracked leader, stayed far side and led main group over 4f out, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Hathal (9-3) at Haydock 1m Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
Flight Risk (IRE) 5-2jfav (9-4) Prominent, 3rd early, pushed along in 2nd 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, one pace final furlong and dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind The Happy Prince (9-4) at Navan 6f sft in Sep.
Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) 22-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 13th of 14, 17 1/4l behind Quiet Reflection (8-12) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Sep.
Sruthan (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Towards rear, 8th halfway, some progress 2f out and ridden in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Rose De Pierre (8-11) at Cork 1m lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Aug.
Awtaad (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Tracked leading pair and keen, went 2nd inside final 2f until and ridden and edged left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind The Gurkha (9-0) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Hit It A Bomb (USA) 13-8fav (9-2) Ran 4th, travelled well into 3rd approaching straight, progress to 2nd 1 1/2f out, driven to lead narrowly over 1f out, headed final 150 yards, soon ridden and dropped to 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Tribal Beat (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Tribal Beat (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Ran 5th, 6th after 2f, driven in 5th over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, improved to 3rd 1f out, stayed on well to lead narrowly final 100 yards, kept on best, won at Leopardstown 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Cougar Mountain (9-9) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Dream Walker (FR) 7-1fav (9-5) Towards rear and 23rd from 3f out, pushed along from 2f out and soon improved into mid-division, ridden from 1f out and kept on well into 5th inside final furlong, 5th of 24, 3l behind Sea Wolf (9-5) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Aug.
