chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, 4th under pressure early straight, no impression
close 2nd, ridden to challenge 3f out, led early straight, kept on same pace under pressure from over 1f out, headed close home
held up, moderate 5th halfway, moderate 4th approaching straight, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on well to lead close home
moderate 3rd, lost place halfway, last and one pace straight
broke well and led, soon strongly pressed, ridden and headed early straight, weakening when checked inside final furlong, no extra
in rear, moderate 5th and progress approaching straight, 4th 1f out, ran on
Amost all of these will find this on the short side and the vote goes to the only distance winner ZORIJA ROSE. Tommy Stack's mare appeared suited by dropping back to 6f last time but scored over this trip at Galway on heavy ground a year ago. Toraidhe, who ended the last campaign racing over 1m4f at Naas, was staying on stoutly over a mile at the Curragh on his return and may just get outpaced here. Wordly Wise has some useful form at around a mile and will be fit from hurdling but a bigger threat may emerge from Celtic Dane, who was in good form at the start of last season without winning and has race conditions in his favour.
Ask Jack (USA) 7-2fav (9-7) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, no extra in 7th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 14, 4l behind Andre Mon Ami (8-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 60-100 pol in Oct.
Toraidhe (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 2nd and challenged 2f out, 3rd and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 22, 3 1/2l behind Big Robert (8-0) at Curragh 1m hcp 0-105 sft in Mar.
Worldly Wise 12-1 (9-6) Chased leaders on inner in 5th, no extra from 2f out, weakened, 6th of 9, 26l behind Raise Your Heart (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Listed stks in Oct.
Few Are Chosen (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, 4th before straight, weakened from 2f out, 17th of 18, 13l behind Riobamba (9-3) at Cork 1m fll hcp 60-90 gd in Oct.
Zorija Rose (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Made all, ridden clear from under 2f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, won at Curragh 6f ext hcp sft in Mar beating The Tooth Fairy (9-0) by 3l, 13 ran.
Celtic Dane (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Soon mid-division, no impression from over 2f out, 15th of 18, 12l behind Rock And Roll Kid (8-13) at Galway 1m hcp sft in Jul.