made all, pressed and pushed along from 2f out, ridden inside final furlong and strongly pressed close home, just held on
chased leader in 2nd on outer, improved to challenge from 2f out and ridden over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, just held
raced in 4th, took closer order on inner from 4f out, further progress to challenge from 2f out and soon ridden, no impression and weakened from 1f out
raced in rear, pushed along from 2f out and ridden from 1f out, no impression and kept on into 4th inside final furlong
took keen hold in 3rd, dropped to 4th from 4f out, pushed along and slightly short of room from 1f out, soon in clear and ridden in 3rd, no impression and kept on same pace closing stages
It's fair to say Aidan O'Brien's trio of Capri, Cliffs Of Moher and YUCATAN will have bigger targets in the coming weeks. The former's defeat of Cracksman in the Irish Derby is the standout form here though he took a little while to warm up and he's no certainty to beat the Epsom Derby runner-up, who reappeared with a victory at Chester, though that was on fast ground. Yucatan hasn't had much racing but was only narrowly beaten by Capri as a juvenile and this could be the day to catch him as there's the promise of much more to come from the son of Galileo out of the brilliant Six Perfections. Beautiful Morning and Cannonball both need to step up from Listed level but should be back in the winner's enclosure before long.
Capri (IRE) (8-12) 17th of 18, 12 1/4l behind Enable (8-9) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 1 gs in Oct.
Cannonball (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Chased leaders in 5th, pushed along on outer entering straight, ridden in 6th 2f out, 4th 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Bound (8-12) at Leopardstown 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Cliffs Of Moher (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Off slow,4wd into str, 8th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Talismanic (9-0) at Del Mar 1m 4f gd in Nov.
Yucatan (IRE) 13-8fav (9-3) Towards rear, 5th halfway, 4th 4f out, ridden under 1f out, stayed on strongly to 2nd on line, nearest finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Douglas Macarthur (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in May.
Beautiful Morning 9-4fav (9-2) Keen tracked leaders, led on bit over 1f out, quickened clear entering final furlong, ran on, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f lst fll stks (1) sft in Sep beating Vintage Folly (8-11) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
