reared leaving stalls and towards rear, headway on outer into 6th 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on best under pressure
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to lead 2f out, soon ridden and joined, headed inside final furlong and no extra closing stages
led, strongly pressed and headed 2f out, dropped to 5th 1f out, rallied under pressure inside final furlong to go 2nd close home
chased leaders towards rear, never a factor
chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden and briefly challenged over 1f out, 4th early final furlong, kept on under pressure
mid-division, 8th halfway, not clear run over 1f out, no impression in 7th when slightly checked inside final furlong
tracked leaders on outer, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra under 2f out, eased when beaten final furlong
towards rear, never a factor, kept on one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 2f out, challenged and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders on rail, 4th halfway, no extra from over 1f out
UK raiders have a tremendous record in this and Hitchens became the third successive winner and the fifth in six years when successful a year ago. He had recent York winner Tiddliwinks and Santo Padre in the places that day and should confirm the form after running very well during the winter at Meydan. Jimmy Styles hasn't won for over a year but three-year-olds have a very strong representation this time around and NEPHRITE looks one for the younger brigade. He won a Group 3 over 7f at Leopardstown in October and was expected to be a Guineas colt but connections now believe he's a sprinter after he disappointed on his reappearance here. His stable are also represented by the Middle Park winner Crusade, who ended the campaign at the Breeders' Cup Meeting where he failed to stay 1m1f. Fire Lily's second to Homecoming Queen at Leopardstown could hardly have had a bigger boost and she failed to last out the mile on soft ground at Longchamp.
Tiddliwinks 25-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway 2f out, edged right over 1f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on towards finish, just held on, won at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd beating The Cheka (9-7) by hd, 13 ran.
Hitchens (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) 4th of 12, 6l behind Krypton Factor (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 6f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Mar.
Jimmy Styles 15-2 (9-5) Soon led, ridden 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Mayson (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gs in Apr.
Santo Padre (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Chased leaders in 5th, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Naas 5f Listed stks (1) gd in Apr beating Spirit Quartz (9-12) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Six of Hearts 5-1 (9-9) Soon tracked leaders in 3rd, switched widest to get a run and dropped to last 1f out, kept on well without troubling winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Gordon Lord Byron (9-12) at Cork 6f stks gs.
The Reaper (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) Soon close up, on terms from halfway, no impression and kept on same pace from 1f out, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Santo Padre (9-9) at Naas 5f Listed stks (1) gd in Apr.
Katla (IRE) 3-1 (9-9) Soon narrow leader, headed and no impression from 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Santo Padre (9-9) at Naas 5f Listed stks (1) gd in Apr.
Crusade (USA) 25-1 (8-10) Bumped, forced in, 6th of 13, 9l behind Hansen (8-10) at Churchill Downs(USA) 1m cond stks (1) in Nov.
Experience (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Rear of mid-division, steady headway to go 3rd 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 15, shd behind The Reaper (9-7) at Cork 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Apr.
Fire Lily (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Beauty Parlour (8-13) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 3yo Fll Grp 1 (1) gs.
Bulbul (IRE) 5-4fav (8-11) Reared and slowly into stride, soon in touch, 4th 2f out, ridden in 3rd over 1f out and soon no chance with winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Gossamer Seed (9-9) at Curragh 7f flls Group 3 stks (1) sft.
Nephrite 4-9fav (9-6) Held up in rear, smooth progress to go 3rd over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Requisition (9-3) at Curragh 7f 3yo lst stk (1) in Apr.
