tracked leader on outer racing keenly, 2nd before halfway, ridden entering straight and dropped to 3rd over 1f out, soon no extra
made all, niggled along approaching straight, strongly pressed 2f out, pushed out and kept on best inside final furlong to assert closing stages
settled in 4th, 5th halfway, ridden and brought wide in straight, no extra from over 1f out
tracked leader, took keen hold, 3rd halfway, ridden and challenged over 1f out, kept on same pace but no impression on winner final 100 yards
settled in rear, 4th halfway, closer entering straight, soon no extra and weakened final furlong
China One made a winning debut at Dundalk in March but disappointed when strongly fancied to follow up a month later. Tibet made a winning debut at Gowran but was well beaten on softer ground at Leopardstown. He's still in the Irish Derby, however, so should do much better. The ground was on the soft side when Montabell impressed at Cork but there's no reason why this faster going won't suit and it was very heavy when Modern Romance made a winning debut at Roscommon in September. HARTANI caught the eye on his debut at the Curragh and overcame very testing conditions to score over the C&D three weeks ago. He should do better on this quicker ground and is taken to follow up in an interesting contest.
China One 6-5fav (10-1) Settled in rear, pushed along and some headway on inner to go 4th entering straight, no impression under pressure 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 2l behind Tannery (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo hcp pol in Apr.
Hartani (IRE) 6-4 (9-5) Made all, asserted entering straight and soon stretched clear, reduced advantage and ridden early final furlong, kept on under pressure, won at Tipperary 1m 4f 3yo mdn hvy beating Offer (9-5) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Tibet (IRE) 7-4fav (9-1) Settled behind leaders in 5th, ridden in 6th and no extra 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 7, 11l behind Call To Battle (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 1f 2yo lst stk (1) sft in Nov.
Montebell (IRE) 10-3fav (9-0) Soon mid-division, progress to be prominent under 3f out, ridden to lead over 1 1/2f out, soon asserted, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Cork 1m 4f 3yo fll mdn gs beating Livia Galilei (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Modern Romance (IRE) 3-1fav (9-0) Chased leaders, 5th approaching straight, challenged in 2nd from over 1f out, led inside final furlong and stayed on well to soon draw clear, won at Roscommon 7f 2yo flls mdn auc stks hvy in Sep beating Balrath Hope (9-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
