1st - €53,100.00 2nd - €18,000.00 3rd - €9,000.00 4th - €4,500.00 5th - €2,700.00 6th - €1,800.00 Overcast

FormscanBy Tom Weekes - RUSSIAN EMPEROR was matched at 1000 in-running when winning from a near-impossible position at Naas in March and looks a smart type in the making. He was the final Irish flat race victor pre-Covid and did so in remarkable fashion given he had so much ground to make up inside the final furlong, having met interference from an unpromising position. He also showed plenty promise on his debut juvenile run and looks sure to benefit from this step up in trip, with Heffernan again booked. Stablemate Iberia has a high 106 rating and clearly carries the best form into today's race. He ran well in some high class races last year but is now tried in first-time blinkers, which is a concern, and while he should be fine stepping up in trip, is nonetheless stepping into the unknown that regard and is vulnerable to high class prospects. Agitare has a 100 rating, attained from his Group 2 placing last September but was beaten in a maiden since and might struggle to beat high class horses here. Sunchart was a good winner at Tipperary and while he is open to plenty more potential, nonetheless faces a much stiffer task today. Cormorant, tried in first-time blinkers, and Baby Zeus both need to improve to win.

For three years old only
Weights - 9st 5lbs; Fillies allowed 3lbs;