chased leaders, ridden in 4th entering straight, no impression on leaders from 1 1/2f out, went moderate 3rd inside final furlong
led, ridden and joined briefly 3f out, headed under 2f out, no extra from 1 1/2f out
always behind
chased leaders on outer, weakened from 3f out
prominent, disputed lead briefly 3f out, soon ridden, 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra
chased leaders on inner, ridden and no impression from 3f out
chased leaders, ridden to lead under 2f out, headed under 1f out, kept on same pace
towards rear, kept on one paced from 3f out
chased leaders, 5th 3f out, ridden in 2nd 1 1/2f out, led under 1f out, kept on well
always towards rear
Duff won this a year ago but is best on fast ground. He was beaten less than two lengths by Air Chief Marshal at the Curragh in July but should have no problems reversing the form on 13lbs better terms despite the revised weight for age scale. Libano was a soft-ground specialist in Italy and scored for Dermot Weld in very testing conditions at Leopardstown last November. He ran poorly on his only subsequent start in April but his trainer is likely to have brought him back to form though stable jockey Pat Smullen has chosen EMULOUS, who is dropping back in trip after showing very good speed over a mile behind Beethoven in August. He gained his only success over today's distance on soft ground at the Curragh and looks ready for his first pattern race victory. Keredari easily won a Listed contest on heavy ground at the Curragh in April and wasn't entirely disgraced in the Irish 2000 Guineas so he's another to consider.
Air Chief Marshal (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Led, kicked on 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened and eased, last of 8, 25l behind Poet's Voice (8-13) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Sep.
Croisultan (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Soon led, ridden and strongly pressed from under 2f out, kept on well under pressure, headed close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Bewitched (8-12) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
Excelerate (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, moderate 6th and no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 10l behind Hujaylea (8-13) at Curragh 7f stks in Sep.
Jumbajukiba 7-1 (9-6) Led, clear halfway, ridden straight, headed 1 1/2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 6th of 8, 12l behind Steinbeck (9-1) at Curragh 1m Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
Libano (IRE) 9-4 (9-3) Close up, lost place and no impression under pressure from 2f out, eased inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 12l behind Kargali (9-0) at Curragh 7f Grp 3 (1) hvy in Apr.
Pollen (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, effort early straight, 5th and no impression from 1 1/2f out, 5th of 8, 8l behind Steinbeck (9-1) at Curragh 1m Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
Keredari (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 3rd 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 7l behind Canford Cliffs (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Rock Jock (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) 6th of 12, 3l behind Amico Fritz (9-4) at Baden-Baden(GER) 6f Grp 2 (1) sft in Aug.
Emulous 10-3 (8-11) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression in 2nd 1f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Beethoven (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Wrong Answer 33-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, progress halfway, 3rd and challenged under 1 1/2f out, 4th and no extra well inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3l behind Bewitched (8-12) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Sep.
Duff (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed last 100 yards, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 12, 1l behind Balthazaar's Gift (9-4) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
