dwelt, soon raced towards rear, 6th halfway, headway 1 1/2f out, ridden into 4th 1f out, kept on strongly to 2nd close home, not reach winner
held up, progress to 4th after 4f, headway under 2f out, strongly challenged leader over 1f out, ridden to lead under 1f out, kept on strongly
ran freely towards rear early, 7th halfway, ridden under 1f out, kept on to 5th close home, never on terms
soon led, 2 lengths clear halfway, reduced advantage entering straight, under pressure and headed 1 1/2f out, soon ridden and weakened
settled 4th, 5th after 4f, under pressure entering straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong without threatening
slowly into stride, raced in detached rear, closed up on field halfway, pushed along approaching straight, no impression, never a factor
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along to lead 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed and headed under 1f out, kept on same pace, dropped to 3rd close home
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, ridden and lost place 1 1/2f out, weakened final furlong
Aidan O'Brien looks to have the answer with the top-three rated entries. NELSON made the running in the Ballysax here last month but looked like being swamped by Delano Roosevelt when the latter loomed up in the closing stages. However, the winner battled on and was on top again close home though the winning time of 24 secs above average on very testing ground tells its own story. The Pentagon, who clearly hated the conditions, will be much more at home today though was never really travelling and is best watched. Theobald was beaten by both Nelson and Delano Roosevelt on this track last year and Hazapour will need to make major progress from his third place in a Group 3 here in October.
Delano Roosevelt (IRE) 11-4 (9-3) Tracked leader in 2nd, headway over 1f out and ridden to challenge inside final furlong, no impression on winner close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Nelson (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr.
Hazapour (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Soon raced in 6th, closed 4f out, challenged over 1f out and every chance, one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Flag Of Honour (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Oct.
Lethal Steps 5-2fav (9-10) Led, joined 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Caffe Macchiato (8-5) at Navan 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Nelson (IRE) 7-4 (9-6) Soon led, ridden over 1f out and strongly pressed inside final furlong, kept on well closing stages, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr beating Delano Roosevelt (9-3) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Platinum Warrior (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Caffe Macchiato (8-5) at Navan 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr.
The King (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Chased leaders and 4th 3f out, pushed along over 2f out and ridden to challenge on outer from 1f out, kept on strongly to lead inside final 150 yards and eased close home, won at Gowran Park 1m mdn Soft - Heavy in Sep beating Imaging (9-5) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
The Pentagon (IRE) 13-8fav (9-6) Ran 3rd, pushed along 2f out and no impression over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Nelson (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr.
Theobald (IRE) 11-10fav (9-7) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, pressed inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure closing stages, won at Dundalk 1m pol in Dec beating Noivo (9-2) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
