took keen hold, held up in last pair, ridden and no progress 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong, lost modest 4th close home
tracked leading pair until over 4f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong
tracked winner, pushed along 3f out, led over 2f out, hard driven and headed final 150 yards, stayed on, just held
chased leaders on outside, pushed along over 4f out, went 3rd 3f out, driven 2f out, soon not quicken, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on again towards finish and going on close home
held up in 5th, dropped to rear halfway, came centre course and outpaced in straight, hung right and plugged on from well over 1f out, took modest 4th near finish
led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden, rallied to lead again narrowly final 150 yards, stayed on gamely to hold on
held up in rear, headway on wide outside 5f out, chased leading pair over 4f out, soon pushed along, came centre course in straight, weakened 3f out, eased over 1f out, tailed off
All seven runners have entries in the Derby including the three raiders from Ireland. Aidan O'Brien won this with subsequent Group 1 winner Imperial Monarch last year and should have a good line on the consistent Sugar Boy in this. He trained Battle Of Marengo to beat the latter in the Ballysax at Leopardstown earlier this month and will fancy the chances of EYE OF THE STORM doing the same. The Ballydoyle colt also had compatriot Galileo Rock a couple of lengths behind when third in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket in October and will come into his own over middle-distances this season. There was little between Al Waab and Fantastic Moon when they finished fourth and fifth respectively in the Royal Lodge last season and the latter had won the Solario at this track earlier. They looked closely matched once again while we'll find out how good recent maiden winners Libertarian and Woodstock are today as they step up in class.
Fantastic Moon 12-1 (8-10) Off slow,5wd lane, 10th of 15, 9l behind George Vancouver (8-10) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Nov.
Al Waab (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd post, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Steeler (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Eye of The Storm (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) In rear, headway and not clear run 2f out, switched right 1f out, ridden and ran on, not reached leaders, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Trading Leather (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Galileo Rock (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and edged right over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 5l behind Trading Leather (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Libertarian 15-8fav (9-5) Stated slowly, soon tracking leading pair 3f, dropped to 4th, ridden outpaced and ran green 2f out, headway and switched right approaching final furlong, stayed on well to lead final 50 yards, won at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gs beating The Welsh Wizard (9-5) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Sugar Boy (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Keen hold early and led, wide and headed after 2f, chased leader in 2nd, improved to dispute 3f out, ridden in 2nd 2f out, no impression winner final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Battle Of Marengo (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft.
Woodstock (IRE) 7-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, switched right and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol beating Fantasy In Blue (9-0) by 1l, 5 ran.
