settled in 4th, headway early straight, 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead early final furlong, driven out
led and soon 5 lengths clear, reduced advantage halfway, pushed along 2f out, strongly pressed and headed early final furlong, no impression and lost 2nd closing stages
chased leader in 2nd, closer halfway, driven along and dropped to 4th 3f out, 3rd and switched right 1f out, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, not reach winner
always rear, in touch until pushed along and no extra from 2f out
settled in 3rd, pushed along from over 2f out, no impression in 4th when slightly hampered 1f out, kept on one pace
Ballydoyle won this with the great stayer Yeats in 2007 and 2008 and there will be some long faces if FAME AND GLORY isn't successful here. Already successful three times at the very highest level, including the Irish Derby and Coronation Cup, punters should be aware he was beaten when long odds-on for his return in a Listed race at this time last year but he's still impossible to oppose. John Oxx has won this for the past two years so Nebula Storm is respected though he'll need to have improved markedly from his defeat in a Leopardstown handicap last October. Sense Of Purpose was a disappointment last season so it could be the admirable Fictional Account, a very tough stayer who won a Listed contest over 2m at Ascot on her final start, who chases the hot-pot home.
Fame And Glory 9-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, effort when not much room 2f out, not recover, 5th of 19, 5l behind Workforce (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Fictional Account (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Reared and awkward leaving stalls, held up last, headway on outside travelling well over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon in command, stayed on well, readily, won at Ascot 2m Listed stks (1) gs in Sep beating Free Agent (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Nebula Storm (IRE) 3-1fav (9-4) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway into 4th 5f out, ridden to challenge in 2nd 2f out, kept on final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Flowers Of Spring (8-5) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcap sft in Oct.
Sense Of Purpose (IRE) 7-2fav (9-2) Soon led, headed early straight, weakened 1 1/2f out, eased inside final furlong, 12th of 14, 17l behind Vivacious Vivienne (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 4f fll hcp gf in Sep.
Unity (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Chased leaders in 6th, no extra entering straight, 9th of 11, 20l behind She's Our Mark (9-7) at Cork 1m 4f flls Group 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Table Mountain (IRE) 6-4fav (9-2) Chased leaders in 3rd, closed over 2f out, soon led, wandered about and swished tail over 1f out, soon asserted under pressure and stayed on well, won at Navan 1m 5f hcp 60-90 gd in Oct beating Wee Giant (8-6) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Syann (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Mid-division, dropped to 9th after halfway, no extra approaching straight, last of 11, 26l behind Hazarafa (8-11) at Curragh 1m 4f Listed stks (1) in Oct.
