Verdict
Aidan O'Brien has won eight of the past 14 renewals and will be odds-on to make it nine with two representatives. Coach House was narrowly beaten by today's rival Fast In The Wind here last month before easily beating subsequent winner Heart Focus at Tipperary. STUBBS needed his opening run on heavy ground here in March and showed the benefit with an impressive success at Navan. There doesn't appear much between the pair but the latter is just given the nod despite Joseph choosing Coach House. Fast In The Wind hasn't run since that opening victory but his trainer will be keen to show it was no fluke and he should have improved while Club Wexford was very green on his debut at Naas but stayed on strongly over that 6f and this could prove a bit short.
Formwatch
Club Wexford (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Keen hold early, tracked leaders, switched to outer from under 2f out, ridden in 4th and flicked tail over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, just failed for 2nd, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Big Time (9-3) at Naas 6f 2yo stk.
Coach House (IRE) 2-5fav (9-5) Made all, asserted over 1f out, drew clear and stayed on well final furlong, won at Tipperary 5f 2yo mdn sft beating Heart Focus (9-0) by 7l, 6 ran.
Fast In The Wind (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Settled in 6th, switched right and went 3rd 1f out, ridden and kept on well to lead final 50 yards, won at Curragh 5f 2yo mdn in Apr beating Coach House (9-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Stubbs (IRE) 4-5fav (9-5) Settled behind leaders on outer, 7th halfway, headway in 4th 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Navan 5f 2yo mdn beating Treadstone (9-5) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Abbakova (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Prominent early, chased leaders, 2nd halfway, led briefly 1 1/2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 12, 6l behind Stubbs (9-5) at Navan 5f 2yo mdn.
Ain't No Surprise (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden in 7th 2f out, went 3rd 1f out, kept on without threatening, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Najm Suhail (9-5) at Dundalk 5f 2yo mdn auc stks pol.
Thrilled To Bits (IRE) Tagula filly out of Daunting Lady.