chased leader in 2nd, 3rd and outpaced entering straight, kept on same pace under pressure from 2f out
held up, 8th halfway, weakened early straight
held up in rear, kept on without threatening straight
always behind, one pace straight
held up in touch, weakened straight
chased leaders, 5th halfway, kept on same pace under pressure from over 2f out
chased leaders in 4th, ridden and no impression straight, eased inside final furlong
chased leaders in 6th, no impression straight
held up in mid-division, progress on outer 2f out, moderate 5th 1f out, kept on same pace
settled 3rd, 2nd and progress early straight, kept on well under pressure from 1 1/2f out without troubling winner
made all, 3 lengths clear approaching straight, ridden and reduced advantage from 2f out, stayed on well, comfortably
AIR CHIEF MARSHALL has something to prove after a moderate run behind Markab at the Curragh on his return last month but should have come on for the run and his overall juvenile form, which saw him runner-up to stablemate Alfred Nobel in the GRoup 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, would be too much for these rivals. Duchess Of Foxland has progressed from handicaps into a genuine Group 3 performer as she showed when placed twice at that level on her last two starts. Aznavour made an impressive start to his career at Gowran but couldn't handle the step-up to Group 3 company at the Curragh though the softer ground may have been a contributing factor. Dermot Weld doesn't tilt at windmills so the presence of Emulous, who beat a huge field on her only start at the Curragh in October, is much respected.
Croisultan (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, not clear run from 1f out, no impression in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Six of Hearts (9-9) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 gf in May.
Matraash (USA) 7-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakening when not much room on inside over 1f out, eased, last of 6, 19l behind Precision Break (9-10) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gf in Sep.
Finicius (USA) 8-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, ridden into 5th 2f out, no extra final furlong and weakened, 16th of 25, 9l behind Bangalore Gold (9-0) at Curragh 1m hcap gf in May.
King Of Tory (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Held up, 7th halfway, 6th when briefly short of room 1f out, kept on, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Orpailleur (9-11) at Listowel 7f hcp 0-100 gf in Sep '07.
Like Magic (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Prominent, 3rd on inner halfway, effort 2f out, soon no extra, 10th of 14, 6l behind Luisant (9-2) at Dundalk 6f hcp std in Aug.
Air Chief Marshal (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden in 6th 2f out, no extra and soon weakened, 10th of 11, 16l behind Markab (9-9) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 gf in May.
Aznavour (IRE) 3-1fav (9-1) Soon led, strongly pressed and headed from 2f out, soon no extra, 6th of 7, 7l behind Free Judgement (9-1) at Curragh 7f 3yo Grp 3 in May.
Baglioni (IRE) 4-9fav (9-7) Settled 4th, improved into 2nd early straight, ridden to challenge from under 2f out, kept on well under pressure without ever getting on terms, swished tail, 2nd of 5, nk behind Lingapour (8-13) at Gowran Park 7f 3yo stk gd in Apr.
Duchess Of Foxland (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Soon chased leaders, 6th halfway, challenged under pressure and almost on terms 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Lolly For Dolly (8-11) at Curragh 7f fll stks G3 in May.
Emulous 10-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 10th halfway, headway in 4th 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, ridden and strongly pressed from 1f out, kept on well under pressure, won at Curragh 7f 2yo fll mdn sft in Oct beating Dance Hall Girl (9-0) by 1l, 28 ran.
Kitty Kiernan 14-1 (8-11) Chased leaders on outer, 5th halfway, ridden into 4th 1 1/2f out, no extra in 5th 1f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 11, 13l behind Markab (9-9) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 gf in May.
