held up in touch, pushed along in 5th 3f out, closer in 3rd and ridden 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong comfortably
chased leaders in 3rd, improved to lead 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, weakened into 3rd final furlong
held up in rear, last 3f out, ridden in 5th 2f out, headway into 2nd 1f out, kept on without threatening winner final furlong
chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon no impression
led, travelling well entering straight, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened quickly
raced close 2nd, 2nd 3f out, soon ridden, weakened from 2f out, eased final furlong
It's hard to know what to make of Velvet Ribbon, who cost 190,000 euros but showed nothing in two starts late last summer. Palace Of Winds has had an even longer layoff having been beaten a long way at the Curragh last June but she has a tremendous pedigree and needs a victory for the paddocks. Snow Scene ran well on her debut behind the Vatican at the Curragh and should improve enough to take care of Teocht, who finished just in front of her. Magical Steps didn't seem to put it all in at Gowran last time though the 1m1f trip was undoubtedly too short so it's DRIFTING MIST who is handed the vote despite her recent defeats as she's looked as though a strong gallop over this sort of trip were required and hopefully she'll get that here.
Drifting Mist 15-8 (8-11) Tracked leaders and 6th halfway, ridden entering straight and went 4th over 1f out, kept on under pressure to go 2nd final 100 yards but no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Khothry (8-11) at Limerick 1m 3f 3yo fll stks gd in Jun.
Magical Steps (USA) 7-4fav (9-0) Dwelt, soon raced in 4th, well off the leaders and ridden before straight, headway 1f out, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner near finish, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Always Annie (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn flls stks gf.
Palace Of Winds (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Disputed early, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out, 12th of 14, 15l behind Sinaniya (9-0) at Curragh 7f 2yo fll mdn sft in Jun '12.
Snow Scene (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 6th approaching straight, no impression and kept on same pace from under 2f out, 7th of 13, 6l behind The Vatican (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stks gf in Jun.
Teocht (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 4th for much, no extra and kept on same pace under pressure from 1f out, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind The Vatican (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f mdn stks gf in Jun.
Velvet Ribbon 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 11l behind Tarana (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2yo fll mdn gd in Sep.
