slowly into stride and held up in rear, effort in last when short of room and switched right 1 1/2f out, ridden in 6th 1f out, no extra
chased leaders in 4th on inner, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 3f out, no impression from 2f out
led, ridden and headed 2f out, dropped to 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong
slowly into stride and in rear, progress into 4th and ridden on outer 2f out, 4th 1f out, no extra
rear of mid-division, ridden in 8th 2f out, no impression, never a factor
dwelt and held up in rear, 7th 2f out, soon ridden, went 5th 1f out, 3rd inside final furlong, kept on without threatening winner to go 2nd close home
mid-division, 5th 2f out, soon ridden, went 2nd 1f out, stayed on well to lead inside final furlong
chased leaders in 3rd, led 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and dropped to 3rd close home
Eight of the last 11 winners have been trained in the UK though not last year's winner Slade Power, who had Maarek and An Saighdiur in the places. The winner's stablemate Sole Power returns to action after a brilliant victory in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, for which he carries a penalty, though surprisingly he's never won here in four starts. Maarek, who had won the Prix De L'Abbaye in 2013, didn't have quite the same impact last term though he gave Astaire 10lb and a beating in the Duke Of York and would be more at home on soft ground than most of these. Astaire has been a bit disappointing since his Middle Park success but Dermot Weld usually has one ready for this and Mustajeeb is respected, though this will be his first start over a trip this short since his debut two years ago. GORDON LORD BYRON was beaten a neck by Jamesie in a Group 3 here in August when conceding 7lb and should take his revenge as he's better than that as he showed when landing the British Champions Sprint on heavy ground at Ascot. Providing the going doesn't firm up, he looks the one to be on.
Sole Power 11-2 (9-0) won at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 1 gd in Mar beating Peniaphobia (9-0) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) (9-0) 9th of 11, 7l behind Able Friend (9-0) at Sha Tin(HK) 7f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
An Saighdiur (IRE) 6-1 (9-13) Soon raced in 7th, switched right after halfway, progress from 2f out, challenged 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Bubbly Bellini (9-7) at Naas 6f hcp in Apr.
Astaire (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, ran on, 6th of 15, 1l behind Glass Office (9-8) at York 6f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Flight Risk (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) A little keen, held up, soon 6th, pushed along under 2f out, closed inside final furlong and not much room on inner, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Onenightidreamed (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 3 (1) hvy.
Jamesie (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, soon 4th, pushed along halfway, no impression from 2f out, moderate 7th 1f out, no extra, 7th of 8, 10l behind Great Minds (9-12) at Naas 5f Listed stks (1) in Apr.
Maarek 9-1 (8-13) 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Mecca's Angel (9-3) at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 3 gd.
Mustajeeb 13-2 (8-11) 3wd into str,no bid, 6th of 15, 5l behind Karakontie (8-11) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m Grp 1 gd in Nov.
Majestic Queen (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 7f flls Group 3 stks (1) gd beating New Providence (8-10) by 2l, 11 ran.
