led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
close up, headway to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
slowly away soon pushed along, in rear, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
held up in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, kept on
towards rear, pushed along 7f out, ridden 3f out, headway approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, no extra
Aidan O'Brien won four Derby trials last week and will be hoping Indian Chief can provide him with another. By Montjeu, he's likely to be suited by a bit of give in the ground and could hardly have been more impressive when landing a Leopardstown maiden on his comeback. Fellow Irish raider Trading Leather, who won the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket in October, can't have been at his best when well beaten in the Racing Post Trophy and Jim Bolger will have him spot-on here. The Tattersalls Millions two-year-old winner Ghurair reappeared as a short-priced favourite for a similar race last month but couldn't quite cope with Windhoek and GREATWOOD. The winner has since easily landed a Listed contest and has more to offer but it's the runner-up who can come out best here and advertise his Epsom claims as he was staying on strongly and will be better suited by the ease in the ground. Secret Number ran a fine race behind the Aidan O'Brien trained Lines Of Battle at Meydan and also enters the equation.
Dashing Star 4-1 (9-3) Dwelt, pulled hard and soon chased leader, ridden over 2f out, lost 2nd well over 1f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 5l behind Spillway (9-2) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Apr.
Ghurair (USA) Evensfav (9-3) In touch, headway over 2f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Windhoek (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gf in Apr.
Greatwood 15-2 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on and just held post, 2nd of 15, shd behind Windhoek (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gf in Apr.
Indian Chief (IRE) 4-7fav (9-5) Settled in rear, headway straight, 6th 2f out, going best in 3rd over 1f out, led and stayed on well inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo mdn sft in Apr beating Dubai Deer (9-5) by 2l, 7 ran.
Libertarian 14-1 (9-0) Held up in 5th, dropped to rear halfway, came centre course and outpaced in straight, hung right and plugged on from well over 1f out, took modest 4th near finish, 4th of 7, 9l behind Sugar Boy (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Secret Number 7-4fav (8-9) 3rd of 12, 2l behind Lines of Battle (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Group 2 sks (1) in Mar.
Trading Leather (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Led, headed 5f out, ridden over 3f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 8l behind Kingsbarns (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Windhoek 4-5fav (8-12) Set steady pace, quickened pace over 1f out, soon edged left, hung badly left to stand side rail entering final furlong, ran on, comfortably, won at Newmarket 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) gf beating Centurius (8-12) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
