raced 3rd, dropped to 4th 4f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride, soon ran 4th, progress to 2nd after 2f, ridden under 3f out, dropped to 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble principals
held up in rear, 5th 4f out, progress to 3rd 2f out, improved to 2nd 1 1/2f out, strongly challenged leader closing stages, led on line
broke well to lead, 2 lengths clear 4f out, ridden 2f out, edged left over 1f out, strongly pressed close home, headed on line
tracked leader in 2nd, 4th after 2f, 3rd 4f out, bumped over 2f out, soon dropped to 5th, weakened under 2f out, soon eased
A tricky finale which sees the three-year-olds Sir Edwin Landseer and Titus taking on older horses. Neither ran particularly well last time, though the latter is very lightly raced. Dermot Weld won this last year with a four-year-old so MASSAYAN may be the one to be on, despite the lack of a recent run. He’s the only course winner in the line-up and the horse he beat here in September, Moonmeister, made a belated winning reappearance at Cork last week. Daybreak Boy has also had a break but Tennessee Wildcat is usually thereabouts and Ceol Na Nog had a pipe-opener here last month. Dragon Fei won at the Curragh last time but is likely to find today’s ground much too lively.
Daybreak Boy (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along and progress to lead under 2f out, ridden and 2 lengths clear 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Dec beating Ellaria (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
Ceol Na Nog (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Led, pushed along early, ridden and headed over 2f out, dropped to 3rd over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Dabulena (9-1) at Gowran Park 1m 1f fll Yielding - Soft in May.
Tennessee Wildcat (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and some progress on outer 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 9th of 15, 3 1/4l behind Admodum (8-10) at Naas 1m hcp gf in May.
Sir Edwin Landseer (IRE) 2-1fav (9-13) In rear, went moderate 4th over 3f out and pushed along, one pace from 2f out, 4th of 5, 15l behind Khudha (8-4) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Jun.
Titus 6-1 (8-10) Mid-division, 4th after 2f, progress to 3rd over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression, dropped to 5th 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 8 3/4l behind Glamorous Approach (9-4) at Curragh 1m 2f lst stks (1) Yielding in Jun.
Massayan (IRE) 3-1 (9-9) Soon led, 2nd after 3 1/2f, driven to lead entering straight, ridden 1f out, soon strongly pressed and joined, kept on well to lead on line, just, won at Gowran Park 1m 1f sft in Sep beating Moonmeister (9-9) by hd, 8 ran.
Dragon Fei (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Ran 6th, 5th halfway, improved to 3rd over 2f out, travelled well to lead 2f out, ridden and asserted 1f out, kept on strongly, easily, won at Curragh 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Jun beating My Direction (9-7) by 4 1/2l, 14 ran.
