disputed lead, ridden and headed entering straight, weakened from 2f out
held up in touch, close 6th travelling well on outer entering straight, ridden to lead over 1f out, strongly pressed and headed inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no impression on leaders when squeezed for room briefly 1f out, no extra
held up in touch and took keen hold, ridden on inner entering straight, went 3rd final furlong, kept on without threatening
chased leaders, pushed along in 3rd 4f out, under pressure in 4th entering straight, headway to lead inside final furlong, kept on well
disputed lead, led entering straight, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, weakened
FURNER'S GREEN is entered in every early-season major event and there'll be some head scratching if he's beaten. A debut winner at Tipperary, he ran very well behind Power in the National Stakes at the Curragh and though disappointing on the same track in the Beresford Stakes the heavy ground was probably responsible. Stablemate Vault also made a winning start and landed a nursery at Galway but he was a long way behind the selection in the National Stakes. Honourable Emperor has a fitness advantage but takes on much better class rivals while Alkazim couldn't find a victory though his short-head second behind Wrote at Cork could hardly have been better advertised by the subsequent exploits of the winner. The remainder will need to improve but all are capable of doing so after a winter's rest.
Vault (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Led at a strong pace, strongly pressed and headed early final furlong, no extra and weakened, 5th of 7, 6l behind Nephrite (9-1) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) in Oct.
Furner's Green (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden along in 4th 2f out, soon no impression and no extra final furlong, 4th of 5, 10l behind David Livingston (9-1) at Curragh 1m 2yo Grp 2 (1) hvy in Sep.
Hit The Jackpot (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Soon led, joined from halfway, led over 2f out, ridden clear straight, stayed on well, won at Galway 1m 2yo mdn gd in Jul beating Mannheim (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Alkazim (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Tracked leader in 2nd, led 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Capeslew (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 2yo mdn auc stks pol in Nov.
Light Heavy (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to lead under 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on final furlong, pressed winner close home, just held, 2nd of 14, nk behind Frontier (9-5) at Navan 1m 2yo mdn sft in Oct.
Silver Sycamore (USA) 11-2 (9-0) Prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden early straight, no extra from over 1f out, weakened, last of 10, 7l behind Bible Black (9-3) at Dundalk 7f 2yo Listed stks (1) pol in Oct.
Honourable Emperor (IRE) 6-4 (9-4) Led, ridden and challenged 1 1/2f out, headed briefly under 1f out, asserted close home, won at Dundalk 1m 3yo stks pol beating Patrimonium (8-13) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
