Verdict

The early entries were dominated by Aidan O'Brien, who has won both previous renewals and has left three in. Ryan Moore is travelling over to ride WESTERN AUSTRALIA, who took a while to warm up in his first campaign but ended with a tremendous run behind stable companion Magna Grecia in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster. The winner was ridden by Donnacha O'Brien, who is on board Van Beethoven, a Curragh Group 2 winner under Moore, who is penalised here. Alburquerque completes the Ballydoyle trio and he'll obviously need to improve massively from his Gowran maiden victory but is in all the major races. Archie Watson sends Barys from the UK and he went to France to land a Listed contest on Polytrack at Cagnes-Sur-Mer last month so arrives here in top form. Colfer Me beat stable companion Numerian in a handicap over the trip in January but couldn't repeat the process when only third behind the same horse a couple of weeks later. Manjeer showed a bit of promise on his debut in October so it was a surprise when he went off at 20/1 in a Leopardstown maiden a few days later where he just held on after establishing a clear lead. Playa Del Puente finished a close third in a huge field of maidens at the Curragh then won a maiden and a conditions' race on this track before the end of the year.

Formwatch

Van Beethoven (CAN) 14-1 (9-3) Raced keenly, held up in rear, driven over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 4th inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 6, 5 1/2l behind Too Darn Hot (9-0) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.

Albuquerque (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Led early, headed after 1f, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, stayed on to press leader 1f out, squeezed through on rail to narrow lead inside final 100 yards, kept on well, won at Gowran Park 7f mdn Yielding in Oct beating Empire State (9-5) by nk, 15 ran.

Barys (8-12) won at Cagnes-sur-Mer 1m lst stks gd in Feb beating Pizzicato (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.

Colfer Me (IRE) 4-5fav (9-7) Pushed along to soon lead, pushed along again and strongly pressed under 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon dropped to 3rd and slightly impeded, one pace, 3rd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Numerian (9-4) at Dundalk 7f pol in Feb.

Manjeer (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Chased leader in close 2nd, improved to dispute lead approaching halfway, led from 3f out, pushed along from 2f out and soon ridden into 3 length lead, reduced advantage inside final furlong and strongly pressed close home, just held on, won at Leopardstown 7f mdn gd in Oct beating Turnberry Isle (9-5) by ns, 15 ran.

Numerian (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Dwelt and slightly impeded start, waited with behind leaders, soon in touch in last, closed 2f out travelling smoothly, pushed along from 1 1/2f out, challenged under 1f out, led and stayed on best closing stages, won at Dundalk 7f pol in Feb beating Sky Seven (9-4) by 1l, 4 ran.

Playa Del Puente (IRE) 13-8 (9-7) Tracked leader, ran freely, 2nd halfway, pushed along early straight and ridden over 1f out, headway to lead final 100 yards and kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec beating Grandmaster Flash (9-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.

Western Australia (IRE) 50-1 (9-1) Led, quickened pace and clear with one other over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left and headed inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Magna Grecia (9-1) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct.