held up in rear, closer entering straight and ridden in 4th under 2f out, 2nd 150 yards out but no impression on winner
chased leader, 4th halfway, closer in straight and progress to lead 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong
led, 4 lengths clear halfway, pushed along and reduced advantage entering straight, under pressure and headed 1f out, no extra
chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden in 5th early straight, no extra over 1f out
chased leader in 2nd, closer in straight, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
chased leader, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression under 2f out, kept on one pace
TALITHA KUM produced an extraordinary performance at Listowel on Sunday where she walked out of the stalls and got left 10 lengths yet still managed to win easily. She's been raised 9lb and won't get away with a poor start again but, if in that kind of mood, is difficult to oppose. Diamond Daze just can't get her head in front and has now had 31 races without winning. She was beaten narrowly over 1m2f at Ballinrobe last time but has the pace for this and will probably be placed again. Maggie Dalton looked a bright prospect a year ago, scoring at the Curragh and finishing runner-up in the Ulster Derby. She ended the campaign with a poor run on heavy ground at Listowel but if Jim Bolger has her right she'll definitely be in the mix. Pretty Angel is 4lb out of the handicap and her best runs have been on Polytrack.
Talitha Kum (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) Awkward leaving stalls and missed break, detached in rear, progress into 8th halfway, ridden to improve into 3rd approaching straight, led under 2f out and kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Listowel 1m hcp 60-90 gd beating Footprint (9-5) by 3l, 9 ran.
Maggie Dalton (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra over 2f out, weakened, 12th of 13, 23l behind Romantic Stroll (9-6) at Listowel 1m fll hcp hvy in Sep.
Queen Of Alba (IRE) 20-1 (9-12) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed entering straight, soon no extra, 5th of 8, 8l behind Killourney Empress (8-10) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f hcp sft in May.
Suite (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Awkward leaving stalls and slowly into stride, soon raced in 5th, no impression from over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 8, 17l behind Pearl Earing (9-5) at Fairyhouse 6f 3yo stk in May.
Namurian Sunset (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Soon led, headed from 3f out, lost place and no impression from 2f out, eased from over 1f out, 7th of 10, 23l behind Tonton Macoute (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo hcp sft in May.
Pretty Angel (IRE) 5-1 (9-8) Mid-division on inner early, short of room and dropped to rear after 2f, last halfway, ridden in 7th 2f out, went 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 6l behind Relentless Pursuit (9-2) at Dundalk 7f 3yo hcp pol in May.
Diamond Daze (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, progress under 2f out, ridden into 4th entering straight, stayed on to challenge final 150 yards, kept on, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Killourney Empress (8-10) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f hcp sft in May.
