prominent, ridden in 3rd 2f out, soon no extra and dropped to rear 1f out, weakened
towards rear, pushed along and no impression in 8th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 4th close home
chased leaders, pushed along in 7th 2f out, ridden in 4th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along in 8th 2f out, 6th and ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace into 3rd final 100 yards
led, pushed along and headed 1 1/2f out, no extra inside final furlong
upset in stalls, tracked leaders, 5th 2f out, no impression and short of room 1f out, no extra
dwelt, chased leaders, pushed along in 6th 2f out, no impression inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 2nd over 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 2nd over 1f out, under pressure and no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace
Most of these have been beating each other in turn at Dundalk over the winter. My Good Brother won this a year ago from a 4lb lower mark but scored from 3lb higher at Dundalk in October. But he was behind tonight's rival PRINCE CONNOISSEUR at the Curragh earlier, though that wasn't his form. The winner hasn't run since but connections will be happy with just a 4lb rise in the weights and, as he won first-time-out last year and has won four of his six races, he's handed the vote to make a successful return. Joe Eile had In Salutem in second and Lady Mega back in fifth when scoring at Navan a couple of weeks ago but the revised terms hand the initiative to the runner-up, who looks a threat. Lily's Prince had finished close behind In Salutem on the same track in October and returned to form with a very easy victory over 6f at Cork but the assessor has hit her with a massive 12lb rise. Kimbay won four times at the backend of last year and probably needed her comeback at the Curragh where she wasn't beaten far in a better race than this.
My Good Brother (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden 1f out, under pressure and no impression final 100 yards, 3rd of 4, 1l behind Bubbly Bellini (9-12) at Cork 5f stks in May.
Zalty (FR) 9-1 (9-1) Soon mid-division, 11th halfway, travelling smoothly over 2f out, soon switched left, still 11th 1f out, switched right under 1f out and stumbled, soon challenged and stayed on well, just failed, 2nd of 20, hd behind Watchable (9-6) at Curragh 6f hcp gf in Sep.
Joe Eile (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Settled 6th, improved to 4th on rail halfway, travelled well under 2f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, ridden and kept on best, won at Navan 5f hcp gd in May beating In Salutem (9-0) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
In Salutem 4-1 (8-10) Dwelt, held up, last halfway, pushed along over 2f out, switched right 1 1/2f out, went 4th 1f out, 2nd inside final furlong, kept on well, not get to winner, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Master Speaker (9-3) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in May.
Prince Connoisseur (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Soon led, joined from 2f out, led again and stayed on well inside final furlong,, won at Curragh 5f hcp gf in Sep beating Captain Cullen (9-6) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Lady Mega (IRE) 13-2fav (8-9) Towards rear, 14th halfway, driven under 2f out, headway to 8th 1f out, ridden and stayed on well final furlong to 5th on line, never nearer, 5th of 15, 3l behind Joe Eile (8-10) at Navan 5f hcp gd in May.
Lily's Prince (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division, progress 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, soon asserted and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Cork 6f hcp in May beating Enter The Red (8-13) by 4l, 16 ran.
Kimbay (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Soon prominent, 4th halfway, challenged and on terms 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, headed under 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Master Speaker (9-3) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in May.
Zaindera (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Led early, soon headed, always prominent, on terms travelling smoothly 2f out, ridden over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong and kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 10, hd behind Ostatnia (9-0) at Dundalk 5f mdn stks pol in May.
