led, pressed under 2f out and soon pushed along, edged slightly right inside final furlong, kept on well, headed near line
forced slightly right leaving stalls, took keen hold, held up on outer, soon chased leaders, pushed along from 2f out, dropped to last over 1f out and no impression, no extra
edged slightly right out of stalls, tracked leader, challenged under 2f out, ridden 1f out in close 2nd, carried slightly right inside final furlong, one pace closing stages
bumped slightly leaving stalls, took keen hold, tracked leaders, pushed along from 2f out, dropped to 5th 1f out, soon no extra
held up, improved into 4th 1f out between horses, stayed on well inside final furlong, led near line
There may only be six runners in this but it's a competitive little affair. Ger Lyons trained the winner in 2012 and has Blood Moon and Birdcage entered this time. The former looks the pick, despite being beaten at odds-on in a three-runner race last time. Jim Bolger trained last year's winner and MIMICKING should be ready for this despite having her first run since finding State Of Emergency just too good over 5f at the Curragh in May. Auld Enemy is a danger eased in grade but Leopardstown maiden winner Al Qahwa is probably the more progressive.
Al Qahwa (IRE) 15-8fav (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, travelled well entering straight, pushed along to lead 1 1/2f out, asserted inside final furlong, kept on well, eased close home, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 6f mdn Good - Yielding in Jul beating Planchart (9-0) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Auld Enemy (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Soon narrow leader, pushed along and headed from 2 1/2f out, dropped to last from over 1f out, no extra and eased inside final furlong, last of 4, 8 3/4l behind Argentero (9-3) at Naas 6f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jun.
Blood Moon 10-11fav (9-4) Tracked leader in 2nd, ran freely, led over 2f out, pushed along and headed over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 3l behind Miss Elizabeth (8-13) at Navan 6f gf in Jun.
Mimicking (IRE) 4-5fav (9-2) Chased leaders on outer in 4th, ridden in 4th over 1f out, improved into 2nd inside final furlong, soon strongly pressed winner, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind State Of Emergency (9-7) at Curragh 5f hvy in May.
Birdcage 4-1fav (9-0) Edged right early, soon led, pushed along over 2f out, soon joined, headed from 1 1/2f out, no extra and one pace from over 1f out, 6th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Great Page (9-0) at Naas 6f lst fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jun.
Redstaroverchina (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Prominent early before settling in 2nd, dropped to 3rd 3f out and ridden from 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Queen Of Sicily (9-0) at Naas 6f mdn fll gf in Jul.
