tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, travelled strongly to challenge in 2nd over 2f out and ridden to lead over 1f out, soon went a few lengths clear, reduced advantage inside final furlong and all out to just hold on
mid-division on inner and 10th halfway, slightly short of room over 3f out, soon pushed along and progress, again slightly short of room over 1f out and soon went 3rd, ridden inside final furlong and kept on strongly, just failed
led, pushed along and pressed from over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra and dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home
mid-division and 11th halfway, pushed along and some progress from 3f out, ridden from 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out
mid-division and 7th halfway, pushed along from 4f out and soon lost place, no impression and kept on same pace from 2f out
towards rear and 15th halfway, pushed along over 2f out and soon progress, ridden in 7th from 1f out and kept on into 4th inside final furlong, never nearer
towards rear and slightly short of room early, 12th halfway, pushed along from 4f out, soon no impression and eased from 2f out
towards rear and 13th halfway, pushed along and good progress on outer from 3f out, ridden behind leaders over 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders and 4th halfway, pushed along over 2f out and soon ridden, briefly went 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong and dropped to 6th close home
mid-division and 6th halfway, pushed along on inner from 3f out and took closer order from 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression and weakened inside final furlong
towards rear and in rear halfway, a bit closer on outer from 3f out and ridden from 2f out, no impression and kept on without threatening from over 1f out
towards rear and 14th halfway, pushed along from 4f out, ridden and no impression from 3f out, soon eased
mid-division, closer in 5th halfway, pushed along in 4th on outer from 3f out, ridden and weakened from 2f out
tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along from 3f out and soon ridden, no extra and weakened from over 1f out
mid-division and 8th halfway, pushed along from 4f out, no impression and weakened from 3f out
mid-division and 9th halfway, some progress from 4f out and ridden over 2f out, no impression when short of room over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
Older horses have a better record than three-year-olds in this and YAXENI (NAP) is just given the vote over Duke De Sessa to carry on the sequence. Ger Lyons' mare won the November Handicap at this fixture a year ago and has continued in excellent form, winning three times at this level this campaign, all on ground with plenty of give. Duke De Sessa is a dual Group 3 winner who ran a superb race in a Longchamp Group 2 last time and will also love the conditions. Inuit failed to stay two miles in the Irish Cesarewitch after just failing to see off Safecracker over this trip at Gowran while Star Image may find this on the short side in this company.
Duke De Sessa (IRE) (9-2) 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Al Qareem (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 2 sft in Oct.
Sunchart 20-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, ran freely, ridden and no impression in rear over 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, last of 7, 14l behind Camorra (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jun.
Yaxeni (FR) 2-1fav (9-10) Made all, ridden 2f out, pressed closing stages of final furlong, kept on well under pressure, won at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct beating Term Of Endearment (9-2) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Inuit (FR) 18-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders in 9th, headway into 5th 3f out, soon ridden, 3rd 2f out, weakened, 14th of 30, 7 1/2l behind Waterville (8-9) at Curragh 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Moracana (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out, 9th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Yaxeni (9-10) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Star Image 80-1 (9-6) Rear, good headway on inner under 3f out, switched left over 2f out, ridden and switched left over 1f out, kept on in 3rd final 150 yards, 3rd of 12, 6 1/4l behind Emily Dickinson (8-12) at Curragh 2m Grp 3 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
The Blue Brilliant (IRE) 22-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride and held up, ridden in 8th 2 1/2f out, soon no impression and kept on one pace, 8th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Yaxeni (9-10) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Venice Biennale (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, ridden 2f out, stayed on into 6th over 1f out, kept on final furlong, pressed leaders close home, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Neptune Rock (9-4) at Listowel 1m 1f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Zola Sakura (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Led and disputed, led after 2f, pushed out to assert over 1f out, soon clear, kept on strongly, easily, won at Naas 1m 2f hcp sft in Oct beating Derry Lad (9-9) by 8 1/2l, 15 ran.
Alaroos (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden to dispute 2f out, narrowly headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no extra close home, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Golden Twilight (10-2) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Blazing Skies (IRE) 10-3 (9-3) Mid-division, 4th entering straight, carried wide over 2f out, led travelling well 2f out, pushed along and soon went clear, stayed on strongly final furlong, very easily, won at Gowran Park 1m 4f mdn fll sft in Oct beating Engagement Ring (9-3) by 9l, 10 ran.
Champagne (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden into 2nd 3f out, disputed over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well closing stages, won at Curragh 1m 2f mdn fll Soft - Heavy in Oct beating River Rain (9-3) by 3 3/4l, 10 ran.
Female Soldier (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Tracked leader, 5th before halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 23, 2 1/2l behind Moracana (8-10) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp sft in Sep.
Freedom Of Speech (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon led, ridden 2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Power Under Me (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Lakewood (IRE) 100-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Yaxeni (9-10) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Sidiriya (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Settled behind leaders, keen hold early, 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, no extra in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Yaxeni (9-10) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct.
Willamette Valley (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 2nd 3f out, led under 2f out, strongly pressed closing stages, all out, won at Galway 1m 4f mdn fll sft in Jul beating Ark (9-3) by nk, 17 ran.
Most Wanted (IRE) 100-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, went close 2nd 1f out, kept on final furlong, no extra in 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Rare Middleton (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 2f mdn Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Seattle Creek 150-1 (9-9) Towards rear, good headway 3f out, under pressure and ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Emily Dickinson (8-12) at Curragh 2m Grp 3 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
