rear of mid-division, ridden in 8th 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, 6th 3f out, soon ridden, no impression from 1 1/2f out
prominent, led 4f out, soon ridden, headed 2f out, weakened
led, headed and weakened rapidly 4f out, soon behind
held up in rear, headway from 3f out, 8th 1 1/2f out, kept on without threatening to go 3rd close home
held up towards rear, headway from 4f out, 5th 3f out, soon ridden, 3rd 1 1/2f out, went 2nd final furlong, kept on without threatening winner
chased leaders, 3rd 3f out, soon ridden, no impression from 1 1/2f out,
chased leaders, 4th 3f out, improved to lead and ridden under 2f out, soon went clear, stayed on strongly final furlong, eased close home
chased leaders, 2nd 3f out, ridden to lead briefly 2f out, soon headed, no extra from 1 1/2f out
mid-division, ridden in 4th 3f out, 7th 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4f out
Benbecula made all to beat The Giving Tree and Something Graceful at Fairyhouse last month but will have to defy a further 6lb weight rise if he's to complete the hat-trick. Bumper winner Curley Bill is interesting having made a winning start to his Flat career at Gowran while Safe Home also scored at the first time of asking on the same track, though has an extra 3f to cover here. The step up to 1m4f saw DABADIYAN get off the mark and there should be more to come from Mick Halford's Zamindar colt, who was competing against the likes of Trading Leather as a juvenile. Halford also runs Paddy The Celeb and Cebuano but the unexposed St Jean may be a bigger threat.
Paddy The Celeb (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division and 8th halfway, driven along 3f out and no impression under 2f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 14, 8l behind Sir Ector (9-3) at Down Royal 1m 5f hcp gd.
Encrypted Message (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Soon mid-division, dropped behind straight, last of 13, 26l behind Dane Street (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp.
Salam Alaykum (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Waited with, soon 8th, no impression and kept on same pace from 2f out, 7th of 10, 14l behind Trading Leather (8-13) at Curragh 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gf.
Benbecula 9-2fav (10-0) Made all, soon clear, ridden 2f out, reduced advantage 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp sft beating The Giving Tree (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Pires 11-2 (11-7) 2nd of 13, nk behind Rodriguez (11-4) at Dundalk 2m am hcp 50-80 pol in Mar.
Curley Bill (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, closed to track leaders in 5th before straight, challenged and on terms 1f out, led and stayed on best inside final furlong, won at Gowran Park 1m 4f mdn stks gd in Apr beating Spirit of Concorde (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
St Jean (IRE) 7-4 (9-5) Made all, went clear 3f out, well clear travelling well 2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, very easily, won at Tramore 1m 4f 3yo mdn fm beating Ballyglasheen (8-12) by 16l, 7 ran.
Cebuano 9-2 (9-9) Settled towards rear, good headway to go 3rd entering straight, soon ridden and no impression on winner in 2nd over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Tiger At Heart (8-13) at Tipperary 1m 4f hcp gf.
Dabadiyan (IRE) 9-10fav (9-5) Soon tracked leader, challenged and led over 1f out, stayed on well to assert final furlong, comfortably, won at Curragh 1m 4f mdn stks gf beating Waver (9-5) by 5l, 9 ran.
Something Graceful 11-2 (9-12) Chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, 2nd 3f out, ridden 2f out, closed 1f out, no impression winner final furlong, lost 2nd on line, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Benbecula (10-0) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp sft.
The Giving Tree (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong to 2nd on line, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Benbecula (10-0) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp sft.
To Choose (IRE) 5-2 (9-5) Soon tracked leaders, 5th before straight, 2nd and challenged from 2f out, led over 1f out, strongly pressed and joined inside final furlong, stayed on best to assert closing stages, won at Roscommon 1m 2f hcp 50-75 gf beating Saratoga Baby (9-11) by 2l, 9 ran.
Safe Home (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Towards rear, plenty to do ridden along in moderate 11th 3f out, switched to inner and went 7th 2f out, 4th 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, led near line, won at Gowran Park 1m 1f 3yo mdn sft in Apr beating Ghaamer (9-5) by nk, 14 ran.
