tracked leaders on outer, keen early on, 4th approaching straight, headway under pressure over 1f out, went 2nd and challenged inside final furlong, kept on well without quite matching winner
settled towards rear, 6th 3f out, some headway on outer early straight, went 3rd under pressure inside final furlong, kept on without reaching leaders
settled in rear, pushed along entering straight, no threat from under 2f out
tracked leaders on inner, 3rd halfway, poised to challenge from 2f out, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, strongly pressed and kept on well under pressure
chased leaders, 5th approaching straight, ridden and no impression from 2f out
led, strongly pressed from early straight, headed just inside final furlong and soon no extra
tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along to challenge entering straight, no extra over 1f out and soon dropped to 4th, kept on one pace final furlong
Three-year-olds have won four of the five runnings of this race and are strongly represented this time but PRECIOUS GEM may be good enough to thwart a repeat. Dermot Weld's daughter of Sadler's Wells has taken some time to show her potential but bounced off the fast ground to land a tough Leopardstown handicap last time and can make the step-up in class. David Wachman's pair Leo Gali and Barbadine have to be respected and the former certainly looked the part when storming to victory on only her third career start at Roscommon last month. She is improving fast and looks a threat while Choose Me must always be feared in this type of grade and produced yet another fine effort when runner-up to Carraiglawn at the Curragh earlier this month when Barbadine was behind.
Choose Me (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th 3f out, ridden into 5th 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on into 2nd final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Carraiglawn (8-10) at Curragh 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gf.
Indiana Gal (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Held up in last, ridden and no impression straight, last of 6, 7l behind Grace O'Malley (9-12) at Cork 1m 4f flls Group 3 stks (1) gf.
Monteriggioni (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, 13th on outer entering straight, ridden and progress into 6th on outer 1 1/2f out, disputed lead and strongly pressed winner inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 13, nk behind Book Of Numbers (8-4) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp 60-100 gf in May.
Precious Gem (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, close 5th under 3f out, 3rd and headway early straight, led over 1f out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcap gf in May beating Maximo (7-13) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Barbadine (USA) 14-1 (8-7) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden in 8th 2f out, 7th 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Carraiglawn (8-10) at Curragh 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gf.
Hazarafa (IRE) 11-10fav (9-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden along 2f out, soon no extra, disputing 3rd when badly hampered 1f out, dropped to 5th, no impression, 5th of 10, 10l behind Akdarena (9-0) at Navan 1m 2f flls List stks gf in Apr.
Leo Gali (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, challenged under pressure and led 1f out, stayed on well to draw clear close home, won at Roscommon 1m 2f 3yo fll stks gf in May beating O' Bella Ballerina (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
