tracked leaders, 4th halfway, progress in straight and ridden to challenge 1f out, no impression under pressure and carried slightly left final 100 yards
raced in 6th, pushed along and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace
slowly into stride, ridden to go 2nd after 1f out, pushed along and dropped to 4th when checked under 2f out, no extra final furlong
soon led, pushed along 2f out and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
prominent early, chased leaders in 5th halfway, pushed along early straight and under pressure in 4th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong without troubling leaders
dwelt and in rear, pushed along and kept on from over 1f out to go 5th close home
tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 2f out and soon switched left, ridden to lead 1f out, kept on and edged left final 100 yards
Dermot Weld has begun the new campaign in top form so BUSH PILOT shouldn't be inconvenienced by the lack of a recent run and, though slightly disappointing on his final start at Navan, should have made enough progress during the winter to take this. Most of Aidan O'Brien's runners to date have needed an outing and that may be the case with The Islander, who showed plenty of pace on his debut behind Iveagh Gardens at the Curragh. Miss Gally Rio was well beaten in that latter event but showed the benefit with an excellent close second to Waltzing Matilda on heavy ground at Leopardstown.
Bush Pilot (IRE) 2-1 (9-5) Soon tracked leaders in stand's side group, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, soon no impression, kept on one pace, 4th of 12, 5l behind Golden Amber (9-0) at Navan 6f 2yo mdn sft in Oct.
Cookie Ring (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Impeded slightly soon after start, in rear, dropped behind from under 2f out, 7th of 8, 24l behind Plamas (9-0) at Gowran Park 7f 3yo mdn hvy.
Russian Roulette (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Disputed lead, headed and ridden 2 1/2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 20l behind Answered (9-5) at Curragh 1m 3yo mdn in Mar.
Space Velocity (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Dwelt, towards rear until pushed along in 5th approaching straight where raced towards outer, soon no impression and weakened from well over 1f out, last of 8, 34l behind Plamas (9-0) at Gowran Park 7f 3yo mdn hvy.
The Islander (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in 7th 2f out, 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 20, 11l behind Iveagh Gardens (9-0) at Curragh 6f mdn stks in Mar.
Love The Feeling (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden in moderate 6th 3f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 10l behind Sinndar Desert (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo mdn auc stks pol in Mar.
Miss Gally Rio (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and challenged early straight, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, headed on line, 2nd of 7, ns behind Waltzing Matilda (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 3yo fll mdn hvy.
