rear, some progress after 1f, 6th halfway, effort 2f out, good headway to lead over 1f out, strongly pressed and headed final 150 yards, kept on, held
rear, 8th halfway, effort 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, 4th 1f out, kept on in 3rd final 100 yards, not trouble leaders
rear of mid-division, 5th halfway, no impression 1 1/2f out, dropped to rear 1f out, weakened
tracked leader in 2nd, pushed along to lead narrowly 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, dropped to 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace in 4th final 100 yards
in touch on inner, stumbled after 1f, 4th halfway, travelled well and closed 2f out, ridden and strongly challenged leader final furlong, led final 150 yards, kept on best under pressure
led, pushed along and headed over 2f out, ridden and weakened under 2f out
mid-division, progress under 3f out, 3rd halfway, pushed along and closed on outer 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
towards rear, dropped to rear after 1f, 7th halfway, ridden in 8th 1 1/2f out, kept on well final furlong to 5th closing stages, never nearer
Settle For Bay is top rated here on the back of his superb victory in the Royal Hunt Cup and though disappointing in two starts at Meydan is capable of bouncing back. King's Field made good progress at Dundalk last year and didn't run badly on his one start at Meydan in January though this can go to RIONACH. Runner-up in a Killarney Listed contest last summer, she put a couple of poor runs behind her when just failing to make all in a Group 3 at the Curragh a couple of weeks ago and can dictate matters here. Chessman was having only his second start for new connections when just failing to reel in Sergei Prokofiev in a Navan Listed contest though that was over an extended 5f. Surrounding is up to this class, as she showed at Leopardstown last time, and could provide the main threat.
Chessman (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, towards rear, headway towards outer under 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not quite get to winner, 2nd of 15, hd behind Sergei Prokofiev (9-0) at Navan 6f lst stks (1) gd in Mar.
King's Field (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) 9th of 16, 3 3/4l behind Baroot (9-0) at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Settle For Bay (FR) 4-1 (9-6) 8th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Desert Fire (8-7) at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Texas Rock (IRE) 28-1 (9-10) Prominent, 2nd early, on terms travelling smoothly from 3f out, headed under 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 27, 6 1/2l behind Red Tea (9-11) at Curragh 1m hcp Yielding in May.
Surrounding (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Broke well, tracked leaders and ran freely, 6th halfway, some headway on outer early straight, ridden over 1f out and kept on inside final furlong to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Imaging (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Annie Fior (IRE) 7-2jfav (9-1) Prominent, closed up approaching straight, challenged and on terms over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Gowran Park 1m hcp fll Yielding in May beating Wisdom Mind (9-2) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Rionach 33-1 (9-9) Soon disputed lead, led over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, headed and dropped to 3rd near line, 3rd of 10, 1/4l behind Happen (8-11) at Curragh 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in May.
Wisdom Mind (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Soon mid-division, headway on inner straight, ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon on terms, kept on well inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Annie Fior (9-1) at Gowran Park 1m hcp fll Yielding in May.
