towards rear, good headway to chase leaders 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, carried head awkwardly and weakened 1f out
took keen hold, led, headed after 1f, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, edged left inside final furlong, kept on
dwelt, took keen hold, soon chased leaders, pushed along to challenge over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, no extra final furlong
dwelt, soon recovered and led after 1f, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, ran on well final furlong, extended advantage final 50yds
prominent, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway into midfield over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon struggling
held up in rear, switched left and ridden over 2f out, made no impression, faded over 1f out
midfield, pushed along over 2f out, made no impression
held up in behind leaders, pushed along 2f out, went second and ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on well until no extra final 50yds
held up in midfield, pushed along over 2f out, soon beaten
mid-division, nudged along and outpaced over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace through beaten rivals final furlong
midfield, headway going okay when short of room over 2f out, switched right and ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, made no impression
Aidan O’Brien has enjoyed plenty of success in this and Peking Opera won a Listed race at Naas last month when beating all three of Joseph O’Brien’s runners including subsequent maiden winner St Vincents Garden. But the Ballydoyle colt has plenty to find at the weights with another Listed winner in the unbeaten GREGORY, who should stay this far having scored at Goodwood last time with Hadrianus well behind. Circle of Fire and Sumo Sam came up short in Listed company on their latest starts but both Chesspiece and Saint George won decent handicaps with the former now racing in the Godolphin colours.
Batemans Bay (FR) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, plugged on one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Flying Honours (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Chesspiece 3-1fav (9-10) In touch, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at York 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in May beating Land Legend (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Circle of Fire 11-4 (9-2) Held up in last, headway from 3f out, chased leaders and still a lot to do when went third entering final furlong, kept on but no chance with front pair inside final 110 yards, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Military Order (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in May.
Etna Rosso (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out, 1-length advantage 1f out, headed inside final 150 yards, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Peking Opera (9-5) at Navan 1m 5f lst stks (1) sft in May.
Gregory 4-7fav (9-2) Raced wide, tracked leader 1f, close up, pushed along and ran green from 3f out, ridden and headway to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Goodwood 1m 3f lst stks (1) gd in May beating Klondike (9-2) by 3l, 6 ran.
Hadrianus (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Gregory (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 3f lst stks (1) gd in May.
Ndaawi 22-1 (9-2) Prominent, pushed along 3f out, outpaced 2f out, rallied to take modest sixth near finish, 6th of 8, 10 1/4l behind Military Order (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in May.
Nurburgring (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 5th over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 1 3/4l behind Peking Opera (9-5) at Navan 1m 5f lst stks (1) sft in May.
Peking Opera (IRE) 5-2fav (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden into 4th on outer 2f out, 3rd 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final 150 yards, kept on well closing stages, won at Navan 1m 5f lst stks (1) sft in May beating Etna Rosso (9-5) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Saint George 13-2 (8-11) Towards rear, pushed along and headway well over 2f out, edged left, led well over 1f out, ridden and forged away 1f out, won at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jun beating Struth (9-4) by 2l, 8 ran.
Steven Seagull 50-1 (8-4) Led 1f, tracked winner until ridden 2f out, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Pledgeofallegiance (9-7) at Redcar 1m 6f mdn hcp (5) gf in May.
St Vincents Garden (IRE) 6-4jfav (9-8) Soon mid-division, headway to lead after 2f, strongly pressed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, joined 1f out, led narrowly closing stages, kept on best under pressure, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f mdn gd in Jun beating Esquiline (9-3) by hd, 8 ran.
Think First (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) In rear, ridden over 1f out, plugged on, never on terms, 5th of 8, 6 1/4l behind Saint George (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Sumo Sam 7-1 (9-2) Led until ridden and headed inside final 2f, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, plugged on again inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 8 3/4l behind Al Asifah (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) gf in Jun.
