raced in 3rd, pushed along 2f out, led over 1f out, soon briefly edged right, stayed on well
soon raced in 4th, pushed along from early straight, soon dropped to rear, no extra from 2f out, behind and eased final furlong, tailed off
soon in rear, closed into straight, 4th from under 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 2nd on line
soon led, pushed along into straight, pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, dropped to 3rd on line
raced in 2nd, closed to challenge into straight, soon pushed along, no impression and kept on same pace final furlong, dropped to 4th near line
Royal Diamond, who won the Irish St Leger in 2012 and this race last year, couldn't complete the double in the classic but is a standing dish around here and always difficult to beat. However, he was beaten three lengths by LEADING LIGHT at Navan in May and a long way by that rival in the Gold Cup at Ascot and is unlikely to turn the tables on Aidan O'Brien's top-class stayer, who should put another notch on his ever increasing tally. John Oxx has a nice prospect in Streetcar To Stars, who looked in need of this sort of trip when staying on behind Eye Of The Storm at Leopardstown. Denis Hogan has placed Inis Meain superbly to score eight times on the Flat and over hurdles and the seven-year-old deserves this step-up in grade after landing a Listed contest here in April.
Leading Light (IRE) 10-11fav (9-0) Raced wide early, tracked leaders, challenging when edged right approaching final 2f, driven to challenge and hung right over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, hung left inside final furlong, stayed on and always just doing enough, won at Royal Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun beating Estimate (8-13) by nk, 13 ran.
Dabadiyan (IRE) 9-4fav (9-11) Held up in rear, ridden in 7th entering straight, progress on outer 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Einsteins Folly (9-11) at Roscommon 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf in Jul.
Royal Diamond (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, held up in mid-division, went 2nd after 5f, pushed along 4f out, lost 2nd over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, behind and eased final furlong, tailed off, 12th of 13, 47l behind Leading Light (9-0) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Shu Lewis (IRE) 2-1 (9-4) Settled 4th, ridden in 3rd 4f out, 2nd over 2f out, no impression on winner entering straight, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Forgotten Rules (9-5) at Galway 1m 6f stks gd.
Streetcar To Stars 2-1 (8-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, soon 3rd, pushed along over 3f out, ridden on outer entering straight, 4th 2f out, kept on for pressure to 3rd under 1f out, stayed on without troubling principals, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Eye of The Storm (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 (1).
Inis Meain (USA) 7-4fav (9-9) Led, ridden and strongly pressed 1f out, under pressure and headed 100 yards out, no extra, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Tarana (9-0) at Limerick 1m 4f Listed stks (1) in Apr.
