soon led, ridden to assert under 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong
raced in 4th, ridden to go 2nd 1 1/2f out, under pressure and kept on one pace inside final furlong
broke well and led early, ran freely, tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and dropped to 4th under 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
settled in rear, pushed along and no impression over 1f out, 4th inside final furlong and kept on one pace
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and no impression on winner under 2f out, under pressure and kept on one pace inside final furlong
Front-running tactics were tried on Conan's Rock at Leopardstown last week and they could hardly have worked out better, Jim Gorman's charge coming home an impressive winner for which he's been raised 9lb. MYSTIC PRINCESS had shown promise before making her handicap debut at Leopardstown last week where she was attempting to concede 21lb to the winner Scooping. That was a very encouraging reappearance and she's taken to go one better.The veteran Maal, seven times a winner on the Flat and also a winning bumper, was in good form last summer and it wouldn't take much more to see him return to winning ways. Dynamite Dixie hasn't run for a year and is difficult to weigh up while Basilica is now on his fourth trainer and finished last on his comeback at Dundalk last month after a long absence.
Conan's Rock 9-1 (8-12) Made all, ridden to assert early straight and 4 lengths clear over 1f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m hcp 47-75 hvy beating Punches Pious (8-1) by 4 1/2l, 16 ran.
Dynamite Dixie (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division early, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, last of 11, 17l behind Fastidious (9-7) at Leopardstown 7f sft in Apr '13.
Basilica 33-1 (9-0) Reared leaving stalls and always rear, ridden 2f out and no impression over 1f out, last of 12, 10l behind Fastidious (9-6) at Dundalk 7f hcap pol in Feb.
Maal (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th 3f out, no extra entering straight, 9th of 11, 11l behind Cheers Buddy (9-6) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol in Nov.
Mystic Princess (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd approaching straight, ridden early straight and no impression on winner over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Scooping (7-11) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo hcp hvy.