tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and dropped to rear 2f out, no extra
in rear, 8th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and no impression in 7th 2f out, went 5th 1f out and kept on one pace
pushed along early and led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon no extra and 6th 1f out, weakened
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, pushed along early straight and dropped to 6th 2f out, soon no extra, weakened
towards rear, 7th halfway, progress on outer 2f out, ridden in 2nd 1f out, under pressure and edged right 100 yards out, kept on well to lead close home
mid-division, 5th halfway, pushed along 3f out and progress into 2nd 2f out, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, under pressure and edged left 150 yards out, kept on
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, progress to lead over 2f out, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no impression in 4th 1f out, no extra
ran 6th, progress between horses over 2f out and led 1 1/2f out, soon ridden and kept on inside final furlong, no extra and headed close home
HARLEQUEEN (NAP) was placed in the Oaks at Epsom before also placing behind Seventh Heaven in the Irish version at the Curragh last time. Mick Channon’s filly is the one to beat on that form as she should confirm Irish Oaks running with Aidan O’Brien’s Somehow. Dermot Weld has won three of the last four so it would be no surprise if Shamreen improved further having placed in a Group 3 over track and trip when ahead of Ballydoyle’s Best In The World. Another UK raider, More Mischief, is preferred to the progressive Arya Tara, who beat lesser opposition to win a Listed race at Leopardstown. Clear Skies is worth a second glance on her reappearance as she was second to subsequent Group 1 winner Alice Springs at Newmarket last year and may well be up to this level.
Fact Or Folklore (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Soon led, ran freely, headed over 5f out, pushed along over 3f out and no extra under 2f out, weakened, last of 4, 18 3/4l behind Stellar Mass (8-11) at Down Royal 1m 6f lst (1) gd in Jul.
Kallisha 9-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Bateel (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) hvy in Jun.
More Mischief 11-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, headway over 3f out, soon challenged, ridden to lead inside final 2f, headed over 1f out, no chance with winner inside final furlong, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Nezwaah (8-7) at Newcastle 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) pol in Jun.
Arya Tara (IRE) 6-4fav (8-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, almost on terms 1 1/2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on best final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f lst stks (1) gf in Jul beating Avenante (9-9) by 1l, 5 ran.
Best In The World (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon raced towards rear, 9th halfway, switched right 2f out, ridden in 8th under 1f out, kept on to 6th close home, never nearer, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Bocca Baciata (9-9) at Curragh 1m 1f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Harlequeen 14-1 (9-0) Mid-division and 8th halfway, pushed along in 6th 3f out, short of room behind horses from 2f out and soon switched left, ridden in 3rd 1f out and kept on inside final furlong without troubling principals, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Seventh Heaven (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Shamreen (IRE) 11-8fav (8-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd approaching straight and ridden 2f out, under pressure and no impression on winner in 2nd over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Pretty Perfect (8-9) at Cork 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Jun.
Somehow (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Mid-division and 7th halfway, pushed along from 3f out and some progress on outer, ridden from 2f out, 5th 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Seventh Heaven (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Clear Skies 13-2 (9-0) In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Alice Springs (9-0) at Newmarket 7f fll (2) gf in Oct.
