led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out and kept on same pace
settled 3rd early, rear after 2f, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
tracked leader in 2nd, improved travelling well to lead 1 1/2f out, shaken up briefly inside final furlong, easily
settled in rear early, 3rd after 2f, ridden 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace
Aidan O'Brien has won this for the past two years with Rip Van Winkle and Cape Blanco while the previous two winners were Teofilio and New Approach. Dermot Weld has scored twice in the past 10 years and is represented by Triple Eight, a winner over this trip at Gowran but last of five when tackling Listed company over 6f at Cork subsequently. Ballydoyle have two of the four runners and ZOFFANY looks comfortably the pick. Beaten just once, when sixth in the Coventry Stakes, he has plenty to live up to but looks superior to Roscommon maiden winner High Ruler, who had less than a length to spare over today's rival Jolie Jioconde but is 2lbs better off.
High Ruler (USA) Evensfav (9-3) Disputed lead on inner, led 2f out, strongly pressed and joined over 1f out, rallied strongly to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, won at Roscommon 7f 2yo mdn gf beating Jolie Jioconde (8-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Triple Eight (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Close 2nd, ridden after halfway, weakened from 1 1/2f out, last of 5, 5l behind Clondinnery (9-1) at Cork 6f 2yo lst stk gf in Jun.
Zoffany (IRE) 4-7fav (9-1) Held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, headway in 3rd 1 1/2f out, pushed out to challenge 1f out, led last 200 yards, soon asserted, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 7f 2yo lst stk (1) gf beating Stentorian (9-1) by 2l, 4 ran.
Jolie Jioconde (IRE) 10-3 (8-12) Tracked leaders on outer, 3rd halfway, headway to dispute over 1f out, wandered about and headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind High Ruler (9-3) at Roscommon 7f 2yo mdn gf.
