in rear, driven along entering straight, kept on one pace without troubling principals
led early and tracked leader in 2nd, led briefly early straight, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not match winner
tracked leaders in 3rd, travelling best to lead briefly over 1f out, soon headed and found little under pressue inside final furlong
led after 1f, strongly pressed and headed entering straight, no extra final furlong
settled in 4th, ridden entering straight and headway to lead 1f out, kept on best under pressure
Three-year-olds have won seven of the previous ten with Aidan O'Brien responsible for five. Today's representative from Ballydoyle, Tenth Star, won this a year ago when it was run earlier in the campaign. He hasn't scored since but has come up against better fancied stablemates on his two latest starts and it wouldn't be a shock if he bounced back. Alla Speranza ran very well when just caught by Soon in heavy ground at Killarney last week and with the better ground and her allowances she can make her presence felt but Native Khan, whose third to Frankel in last year's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket would make him an automatic choice, has disappointed in his two runs behind Famous Name this campaign. Primevere is a regular at this level and should be up to winning one judging by her narrow defeat by Lay Time at Windsor. She stays a bit further than this, however, so would need a strong gallop and those who witnessed the victory of SPEAKING OF WHICH at the Curragh in May won't want to desert him. Dermot Weld's colt was having just his third start when beating Soon by no less than nine lengths on good ground and though the absence is a concern that form entitles him to the vote here.
Defining Year (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Led, disputed after 2f, ridden in lead under 3f out, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 6, 7l behind Famous Name (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jul.
Primevere (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) Led until over 1f out, rallied closing stages, just failed, 2nd of 6, ns behind Lay Time (8-11) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug.
Speaking Of Which (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Keen early and settled off pace in 5th, closer halfway and travelled well to go 4th entering straight, headway to lead 1 1/2f out and soon asserted, stayed on well to draw clear final furlong, easily, won at Curragh 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in May beating Soon (9-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Tenth Star (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Soon led, ridden and joined 2f out, headed early final furlong, no impression and kept on one pace under pressure, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Soon (9-0) at Killarney 1m Listed stks (1) hvy in Aug.
Alla Speranza 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, headway 2f out and disputed from over 1f out, kept on under pressure, headed final 100 yards and no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Soon (9-0) at Killarney 1m Listed stks (1) hvy in Aug.
Native Khan (FR) 4-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden entering straight, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Famous Name (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jul.
