The Group 1 winner Ebro River was beaten in the National Stakes at the Curragh when upped to today’s trip. Charlie Appleby trained the winner of the latter contest and runs Listed winner Noble Truth in this with the Godolphin colt preferred to the other UK runners Angel Bleu and The Wizard Of Eye. Ballydoyle sends over Group 2 runner-up Stone Age while Coolmore also own the progressive Ancient Rome, who landed a Group 3 for Andre Fabre over a longer trip here last month. But ACCAKABA remains unbeaten after winning a competitive Group 2 in soft going at Deauville and Christophe Ferland’s filly may edge this. Rocchigiani beat Annis Master in a Group 3 race at Baden Baden but the German filly will find this much tougher.
Ebro River (IRE) 13-2 (9-5) Led, joined 2 1/2f out, ridden in narrow lead over 1f out, headed inside final 150 yards, kept on same pace, 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Native Trail (9-5) at Curragh 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Stone Age (IRE) 10-3jfav (9-5) Mid-division on outer, attempted to half-jump roadway after 1f and stumbled badly, headway into 4th at halfway, ridden in 2nd 1 1/2f out, led 1f out, joined inside final furlong, headed and kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Atomic Jones (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Angel Bleu (FR) 10-3 (9-1) Held up towards rear, keen early, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, drifted right under pressure but quickened to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) sft in Jul beating Berkshire Shadow (9-4) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Noble Truth (FR) 9-1 (9-0) Raced wide, close up, headway to lead over 1f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, all out, won at Doncaster 7f lst stks (1) gf in Sep beating Hoo Ya Mal (9-0) by ns, 9 ran.
The Wizard Of Eye (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Always chasing leaders, faded final furlong, 5th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Acer Alley (8-10) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 3 gs in Sep.
Arnis Master (GER) (9-2) 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Rocchigiani (9-2) at Baden-Baden 7f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep.
Rocchigiani (9-2) won at Baden-Baden 7f Grp 3 stks gs in Sep beating Arnis Master (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ancient Rome (USA) (9-3) won at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Sep beating Scherzo (9-3) by 2l, 5 ran.
Accakaba (IRE) (8-11) won at Deauville 7f Grp 2 stks gs in Aug beating Fleur D'iris (8-11) by shd, 5 ran.
