chased leader, closed but lost place under 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 3rd and kept on same pace inside final furlong
raced in moderate 3rd, niggled along into straight, closed under 2f out, challenged and on terms over 1f out, headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong
led, clear into straight, reduced lead under 2f out, headed and no extra over 1f out, dropped to last inside final furlong
raced in moderate last of the 4, closed under 2f out, ridden to challenge and on terms from over 1f out, led and stayed on best inside final furlong
Jim Bolger has won this for the past two years and the filly Hurricane Havoc will appreciate the drop in class having competed at pattern race level since her debut victory. Creekside beat a big field on his debut at Naas but will need to improve here as the form hasn't worked out too well while a tenuous line through Alexander Pope gives Last Crusade something to find with A WORD APART and it's the latter who gets the nod. Dermot Weld's charge was in need of the run over 7f behind Adilpour at Gowran on May Day and, as a half-brother to Casual Conquest, has always looked as though he would do better when stepped up in trip in his second season.
A Word Apart (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden in 4th 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Adilapour (9-5) at Gowran Park 1m 1f 3yo stk gf.
Creekside 4-1fav (9-5) Made all, challenged 2f out, ridden and kept on well final furlong to assert, won at Naas 1m 3yo mdn aut in Apr beating Catch The Eye (9-0) by 3l, 20 ran.
Last Crusade (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 7l behind Alexander Pope (9-1) at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd.
Hurricane Havoc (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Towards rear for most, never a factor, 7th of 9, 7l behind Ballybacka Lady (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gf.
Fancy Socks (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Dwelt, soon mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden in 5th 3f out, no extra in 7th 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 8l behind Nantucket Bay (9-2) at Navan 1m 5f 3yo mdn gf.