Verdict

No favourite has won this in the past 11 renewals and three-year-olds have a poor recent record which suggests Aidan O'Brien's recent Fairyhouse winner Chicago has a stiff task after a 10lb rise. Paramount was a shock winner a year ago and is only 1lb higher though he hasn't been in the best of form of late. Scots Gaelic looks sure to go well as he scored over this trip at Fairyhouse before a very good run behind Simenon over 2m4f at Royal Ascot. SALAM ALAYKUM had Placere 2l behind when scoring over the trip at Leopardstown and should confirm the placings. The pair are to be ridden by Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry respectively and the two great rivals can once again fight out a finish. The veteran Baron De'L looks the main threat as he generally goes well here as he did when a close third behind Ursa Major last month, his first start since runner-up in a big field here in October.

Formwatch

Swampfire (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Soon tracked leader, 3rd over 3f out, soon struggling, no extra and kept on same pace in last from before straight, last of 4, 7l behind Goldplated (9-0) at Sligo 1m 2f stks gs in Jun.

Scots Gaelic (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Raced wide mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway and edged left over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, not reached leaders, 4th of 20, 8l behind Simenon (9-10) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f hcp 0-95 (2) gd in Jun.

Chicago (IRE) 5-2 (9-3) Settled in 5th, smooth headway in straight, led 1f out and pushed out to assert inside final furlong, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp sft beating Hay Point (9-1) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.

Prince Chaparral (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden into moderate 8th 2f out, no impression and kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 12l behind Ursa Major (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp sft in Jun.

Asiya (IRE) 4-1 (10-2) Held up early, headway into 3rd halfway, 2nd over 4f out, ridden to lead under 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Blackstairmountain (11-0) at Bellewstown 1m 4f am stks (4yo+) hvy.

Baron De'l (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, led briefly 3 1/2f out, ridden in 2nd 3f out, kept on, disputed briefly 1 1/2f out, no extra in 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Ursa Major (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp sft in Jun.

Mister Carter (IRE) 11-2 (9-10) Soon mid-division, pushed along after halfway, 8th 6f out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 9th of 11, 46l behind Headford Flyer (8-13) at Clonmel 2m hcp 60-90 sft in May.

Salam Alaykum (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge early straight and led over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp 50-75 gs beating Placere (9-9) by 2l, 23 ran.

Placere (IRE) 11-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, 5th on inner halfway and ridden along approaching straight, headway into 3rd early straight and went 2nd 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 23, 2l behind Salam Alaykum (9-11) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp 50-75 gs.

Star Power (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Chased clear leaders, moderate 5th halfway, much closer 5f out, 4th entering straight, soon no extra and weakened, eased when beaten final furlong, 15th of 19, 27l behind Minsk (8-9) at Curragh 2m hcp sft in Oct.

Paramount (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, 9th of 11, 22l behind One Cool Shabra (10-11) at Bellewstown 1m 6f Amateur Handicap (60-90) (3yo+) sft.

Black Belt (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Prominent, no extra and kept on same pace from under 2f out, 8th of 26, 16l behind Minsk (11-4) at Curragh 1m 4f gnt amt hcp 0-85 sft in Sep.