tracked leader in 2nd, progress to lead entering straight, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, kept on 1f out, no chance with winner
settled 5th, pushed along entering straight, ridden under 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
in rear, 6th halfway, pushed along under 2f out, ridden and progress to 4th over 1f out, no impression final furlong
led, pushed along and dropped to 3rd entering straight, weakened quickly to 7th 1 1/2f out, no extra and eased
held up 6th, 7th halfway, pushed along to 5th entering straight, ridden into 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
ran freely in 3rd, driven into 2nd entering straight, soon ridden, weakened to 6th 1 1/2f out, no extra and eased inside final furlong
raced 4th, pushed along and headway to lead 1 1/2f out, ridden clear 1f out, kept on well, comfortably
Surprisingly, Aidan O'Brien has won this just once in the past 11 years. Jamaica easily landed the odds in a Galway maiden before finding quick ground against him in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York and should make a bold bid to double the Ballydoyle tally. Parish Boy ended his campaign by completing a double in a Listed contest on this track when the ground had plenty of give so he's an obvious threat to all. Endless Drama looked a very smart prospect when comfortably landing a Naas maiden in October and could be anything while Mandamus has a fitness advantage having been headed on the line in testing ground at the Curragh. ZAWRAQ (NAP) went into many notebooks when accounting for Sir Isaac Newton here in October. The runner-up is well regarded so Dermot Weld's charge, currently 25/1 for Guineas at Newmarket, can take this on the way to better things.
Endless Drama (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Tracked leader in 3rd, travelling well in 2nd halfway, pushed up to lead under 2f out, asserted 1f out, soon clear, impressive, won at Naas 6f 2yo mdn in Oct beating Cenotaph (9-5) by 6l, 17 ran.
Jamaica (IRE) 2-1 (9-1) Slowly away, soon recovered and close up, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Dutch Connection (9-1) at York 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Mandamus (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Soon settled behind leaders on outer, ridden to challenge 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, drifted left under pressure inside final furlong, strongly pressed final 100 yards and headed close home, 2nd of 12, hd behind Stormfly (9-3) at Curragh 7f 3yo hcp hvy in Mar.
Mesmerism (USA) 12-1 (9-5) Mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden and no impression 2f out, 10th of 16, 26l behind Ashraf (9-5) at Curragh 1m 3yo mdn hvy in Mar.
Mohaayed 20-1 (9-5) Mid-division and 13th early, soon tracked leaders and closer in 4th approaching straight, 3rd from 3f out, led 1f out, soon swished tail and drifted right, stayed on well to draw clear, comfortably, won at Navan 1m mdn stks in Oct beating Jinsha Lake (9-5) by 4 1/2l, 18 ran.
Parish Boy 7-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, towards rear, took keen hold, raced towards outer straight, pushed along over 2f out, headway to chase leader 1 1/2f out, 2nd 1f out, got on terms inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead closing stages, won at Leopardstown 1m 1f 2yo lst stk (1) in Oct beating Order Of St George (9-3) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Zawraq (IRE) 3-1 (9-5) Soon led, pressed and joined inside final furlong, rider had whip knocked out of hand around 100yds out, stayed on well to just prevail close home, won at Leopardstown 7f mdn stks in Oct beating Sir Isaac Newton (9-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Portage (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Soon prominent, 5th over 3f out and pushed along, 4th 2f out, 2nd 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well,, won at Curragh 7f 2yo mdn gf in Sep beating Sacrificial (9-5) by 1/2l, 21 ran.
