awkward away from stalls and lost ground start, soon in touch and waited with towards rear, keen, pushed along straight, no impression under 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
waited with, soon towards rear, pushed along under 4f out in last, no impression under 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along and headway straight, challenged from over 1f out, briefly came close with rival inside final furlong, led and stayed on best closing stages
dwelt, soon chased leaders and a little keen, pushed along and headway straight, challenged over 1f out, every chance and edged slightly left and briefly came close with rival inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner closing stages
soon led, pushed along straight, joined under 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
prominent, pushed along straight, challenged and on terms under 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon dropped to 3rd and one pace
prominent, soon tracked leaders, pushed along straight, kept on same pace final furlong
PONDUS, placed at Group 3 level for James Fanshawe, made a fine start for Joseph O'Brien when runner-up in a Listed contest at Limerick where he didn't quite get the run of the race. He had the odds-on Simsir, a winner in Dubai in February, two lengths back in fifth though the latter was nowhere near his best. Heliac stepped out of a Dundalk handicap to land a Leopardstown Listed contest where she battled on strongly to catch Fresnel close home with the unlucky in-running Camphor in fourth. Helvic Dream couldn't quite get to Protagonist in a Gowran handicap but was conceding 18lb and deserves his chance in this grade. Nobel Prize took his chance in the Queen's Vase but never got close to Santiago and found the 1m6f beyond him.
Carlo Biraghi (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Prominent, soon raced in 2nd, slight mistake 3 out, closed up travelling smoothly from before straight, led approaching last where jumped left, ridden and quickly asserted, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m mdn gd in Jan beating Pienta (11-4) by 7 1/2l, 22 ran.
Contrapposto (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Towards rear, pushed along briefly 3f out, closer in 10th when short of room from 2f out, 9th and ridden 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 18, 3 3/4l behind Njord (10-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Pondus 5-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, still travelling well entering straight, pushed along and headway from 2f out, short of room over 1f out, switched right to inner and kept on into 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Oriental Eagle (9-7) at Limerick 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
Camphor (IRE) 4-1 (9-11) A little slow into stride and pushed along briefly, waited with, 8th approaching halfway, pushed along again approaching straight, soon headway, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Lemista (9-3) at Gowran Park 1m 1f fll stks (1) Yielding in Jun.
Lady Stormborn (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Soon off pace towards rear, pushed along approaching straight, no impression from over 2f out, 8th of 10, 35 1/2l behind Warnaq (9-0) at Naas 1m 4f lst stks (1) hvy in Nov.
Helvic Dream (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Soon tracked leaders, switched left over 2f out, soon pushed along, chased winner inside final furlong and kept on without threatening, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Protagonist (8-10) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp Yielding in Jun.
Katiba (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd travelling well 3f out, ridden and disputed 2nd 2f out, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Napa Valley (9-10) at Curragh 1m 2f gd in Jun.
Simsir (IRE) 5-6fav (9-7) Tracked leader, pushed along to challenge early straight, no impression when slightly hampered over 1f out, kept on one pace, last of 5, 3l behind Oriental Eagle (9-7) at Limerick 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
Heliac 5-2fav (9-2) Waited with behind leaders, effort on outer straight, challenged over 1f out, led close home, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gd in Jun beating Fresnel (9-2) by nk, 7 ran.
Fresnel 11-1 (9-2) Soon raced in 2nd, pushed along approaching straight, on terms from 2f out, gained narrow lead 1 1/2f out, headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Heliac (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gd in Jun.
Nobel Prize (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Hung left start, held up in 4th, headway over 4f out, switched left and beaten over 2f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 17 1/2l behind Santiago (9-0) at Ascot 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gs in Jun.
