chased leaders, pushed along from halfway, went 2nd inside final furlong and stayed on in closing stages but never going pace to reach winner
held up, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear, headway 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, weakened over 1f out, no impression in 5th final furlong
quickly away, made all, clear 3f out, stayed on gamely, driven out, unchallenged
pulled hard tracking winner, pushed along 3f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on same pace in 3rd
held up and behind, headway near side over 2f out, 4th and one pace final furlong
took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
Beacon Rock would have gone very close to landing the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last month had he enjoyed better luck in-running so will be fancied to gain compensation eased slightly in grade. But this step up in distance should bring about plenty of improvement in compatriot CLEAR CUT, a son of Galileo who just failed to get up over 6f at Fairyhouse on his debut despite finding the trip too short - Jim Bolger won this in 2012 with the smart Trading Leather. Roger Varian sent out 2013 winner Kingston Hill and saddles another very promising maiden in Sandown third Tiercel. Gifted Master has won three of his five starts but Champagne Stakes runner-up Ibn Malik has the better overall form and is also preferred to Special Season.
Beacon Rock (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Held up, 8th halfway, ridden and slightly hampered 2f out, not clear run 1 1/2f out, stayed on into 5th 1f out, kept on well final furlong to 3rd close home and pressed leaders, 3rd of 9, 1/4l behind Port Douglas (9-3) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Clear Cut 11-4fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 1f out, every chance and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 16, shd behind Golden Pearl (9-0) at Fairyhouse 6f mdn Good - Yielding in Sep.
Cosmeapolitan 3-1fav (9-5) Always prominent, challenged going well over 2f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, pushed out, readily, won at Chepstow 7f mdn stks (5) sft in Sep beating Able Jack (9-5) by 4l, 9 ran.
Dragon Mall (USA) 4-1 (9-3) Held up in rear and pushed along at times, headway on wide outside 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged left, on top towards finish, won at Chelmsford City 1m stks (2) pol in Sep beating Lazzam (9-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Gifted Master (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Made all, soon 3 lengths clear, quickened approaching final furlong, unchallenged, won at Newmarket 7f (2) gf in Oct beating Waterloo Bridge (9-3) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ibn Malik (IRE) 7-2fav (9-0) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Emotionless (9-0) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Special Season 8-13fav (9-1) Held up in touch, headway when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Stormy Antarctic (9-1) at Newbury 1m stks (2) sft in Sep.
Tiercel 3-1fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held close home, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Taskeen (9-5) at Sandown 1m mdn stks (5) sft in Sep.
