chased leader in 2nd, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, comfortably
led, ridden and strongly pressed 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
chased leaders disputing 3rd, 3rd 3f out, ridden entering straight, no impression on leaders over 1f out, kept on one pace
held up in touch in last, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went moderate 4th inside final furlong, kept on one pace
chased leaders disputing 3rd, pushed along and dropped to 4th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression on leaders, dropped to last inside final furlong
Joseph O'Brien saddles three of the five runners though could be upstaged by Jessica Harrington's LEO DE FURY. One of the few from the yard who didn't reach a place on Champions Weekend, last year's Group 2 winner has been racing against much stronger opposition and should take care of these. Benaud looks best of the O'Brien entries on his all-weather debut as he's another who has been competing at a higher level since reappearing with a victory at Naas in May. Isle Of Sark made a winning debut here in November and looked one to follow when a close fifth in the Ballysax in April but hasn't made the expected progress while Stour has a lot more to do than when landing a maiden here a fortnight ago, though he did it nicely. Southern Cape ran in Group company after his maiden success at Gowran last summer but hasn't run for almost a year.
Leo De Fury (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Towards rear, pushed along in 8th 2f out, soon hampered, ridden in 8th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th near line, 5th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Camorra (9-11) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Benaud (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 20l behind Tarnawa (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Isle Of Sark (USA) 3-1 (9-10) Waited with in rear, pushed along 3f out, switched right 2 1/2f out and headway, 4th 2f out, 3rd and kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Ottoman Emperor (9-10) at Navan 1m 2f gd in Jul.
Southern Cape (IRE) 22-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, ridden into 8th 2f out, no impression in 7th 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 13, 9l behind High Definition (9-5) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Stour 7-4fav (9-7) Held up in touch, 4th halfway, progress travelling well entering straight, 2nd 2f out, pushed along and led 1 1/2f out, ridden and 2 lengths lead 1f out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Sep beating Rayadiyr (9-7) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
