soon raced in 5th, closed travelling smoothly from 3f out, on terms over 1f out, headed from 100yds out, kept on without matching front pair
held up towards rear, a little keen, closed on inner straight, effort 2f out, no extra approaching final furlong
soon raced in 6th, switched right under 3f out and effort, one pace 1f out
waited with, soon towards rear, headway and not much room briefly over 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, kept on well, just failed
soon led, pressed straight, headed over 1f out, no extra and one pace after
waited with towards rear, a little keen, improved to challenge from 2f out, on terms over 1f out, led from 100yds out, kept on well, just held on
a little awkward leaving stalls, soon raced in 4th, raced on outer straight, pushed along under 3f out, no extra and eased final furlong
soon raced in 2nd, pushed along from 3f out, one pace 1f out
soon raced in 3rd, raced on outer straight, pushed along under 3f out, soon effort, one pace 1f out
Dermot Weld trained a four-year-old to win this last year and the smart Yulong Gold Fairy should make a bold bid to defy a penalty for her Group 3 victory in soft ground at Tipperary. Drombeg Dream is a heavy-ground specialist with all four victories coming in very testing conditions. Her overall form gives her a bit to find but the going is very much in her favour. Ellthea won a Group 3 on soft ground here in 2017 when trained in the UK. She's changed stables after racing in decent company throughout last season. She looks the best of Jonjo Stack's trio while Normandel, a Listed winner in France, should do better for Jim Bolger this season. The three-year-old DELPHINIA has an entry in the Irish Oaks and will need to win here to justify that. She's by Galileo out of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Again and this can kick-start a big campaign.
Yulong Gold Fairy 9-2 (9-0) Towards rear, headway towards outer straight, soon challenged, gained narrow lead and stayed on well close home, won at Tipperary 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct beating Smash Williams (9-5) by hd, 9 ran.
Drombeg Dream (IRE) 8-15fav (9-4) Prominent and led after 2f, travelling well early straight, pushed along to assert and 2 lengths clear over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, easily, won at Limerick 7f hvy in Oct beating Wajeez (9-7) by 6 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ellthea (IRE) (9-2) 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Blizzard (9-2) at Fontainebleau 7f lst stks in Nov.
Hand On Heart (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Towards rear, 6th halfway, ridden in 7th over 2f out, no headway, never a factor, last of 7, 9 1/2l behind Flavius (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 2f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Iiex Excelsa (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Chased leader, pushed along in moderate 4th halfway, no extra over 2f out, weakened, eased final furlong, last of 14, 23 1/2l behind Sarrocchi (9-0) at Naas 1m lst fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
Normandel (FR) 16-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear and ran freely early, 6th halfway, headway to 3rd over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression on clear leader, kept on one pace in moderate 4th under 1f out, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Mustajeer (9-5) at Naas 1m 4f lst stks (1) Yielding in Nov.
Rionach 25-1 (9-0) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden over 2f out, weakened, last of 9, 20 1/2l behind Eziyra (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Delphinia (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Raced in 4th early, soon 3rd, led over 2f out, strongly pressed and joined briefly final furlong, stayed on best close home, won at Galway 1m mdn fll sft in Oct beating Kiss For A Jewel (9-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Fresnel 40-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 1f, pushed along and 2 lengths clear early straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m mdn fll pol in Feb beating Lady Cedar (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
