mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, no impression in 4th 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra in 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace
mid-division early, 7th halfway, ridden 2f out, stayed on in 6th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
keen hold and chased leader in close 2nd, ridden in 3rd 2f out, kept on well final furlong to lead close home
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, headway in 2nd 2f out, ridden to challenge 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, kept on, headed close home
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened entering straight
Aidan O'Brien won this in four consecutive years from 1999 so Ice Empress obviously has to be respected. The daughter of Danehill Dancer has been making steady progress and being related to numerous winners would be worth a fortune at the paddocks with a win under her belt. SMART STRIKING showed plenty of promise on her debut at Naas last October and didn't reappear until the beginning of this month when just touched off over 7f by School Holidays. She looks certain to have come on for that and gets the vote. Lily Of Laguna ran well enough behind Anaverna at Wexford last month to be considered, especially as the first two have won again, while Another Reema and Viennese Whirl have shown promise and can't be ruled out. Skyway's two runs have been at Dundalk and she's done enough to be a threat if taking to turf.
Another Reema (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway in 6th 2f out, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong, just held for 2nd, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Bea Remembered (9-0) at Curragh 1m mdn stks gf.
Ice Empress (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed under 3f out, regained narrow lead 1f out, strongly pressed and disputed final furlong, headed final 100 yards and no extra, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Queen Andromache (9-12) at Navan 1m 3yo fll stks fm in May.
Lily Of Laguna (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Mid-division, 5th entering straight, soon ridden, kept on one paced from 2f out, 4th of 10, 6l behind Anaverna (9-0) at Wexford 1m 3yo fll mdn gd in May.
Notalossonya (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Held up, 6th 3f out, driven along and went 4th over 1f out, no impression final furlong and kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Ferdinand Magellan (9-5) at Navan 1m 2f mdn stks gf.
Skyway (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, 4th over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Glorified (9-0) at Dundalk 7f 3yo mdn fll pol in May.
Smart Striking (USA) 5-2fav (9-0) Chased leaders, 2nd 3f out, ridden to lead under 2f out, strongly pressed over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind School Holidays (9-0) at Fairyhouse 7f 3yo & 4yo mdn gd.
Tilda's Best (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Always towards rear, 11th of 14, 17l behind Reggae Dancer (9-3) at Dundalk 5f 2yo mdn stks pol in Oct.
Viennese Whirl 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge in close 3rd 2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 17, 6l behind Barbadine (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f 3yo fll stks gf in May.
