Verdict

Although Naas winner Grafelli and easy Down Royal winner Smoker will appreciate the testing ground and have plenty of improvement in them, this looks another for Ballydoyle. CRISTOFORO COLOMBO made a winning start at Navan before a fine run behind Dawn Approach in the Coventry Stakes and though beaten by Probably in the Group 2 Railway Stakes here his overall form is way ahead of anything achieved by these rivals. Stablemate Count Of Limonade is progressing along the right lines and looked well at home on heavy ground at Roscommon a couple of weeks ago though he'll need to improve massively to see off the selection.

Formwatch

Cristoforo Colombo (USA) 11-10fav (9-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, quickened between horses to lead 1f out, soon strongly pressed and headed 100 yards out, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Probably (9-3) at Curragh 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Jun.

Grafelli (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Close up in 3rd, ridden to lead 2f out, headed 1f out, rallied under pressure last 100 yards to regain lead close home, won at Naas 6f 2yo mdn hvy beating Three Sea Captains (9-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.

Hard Yards (IRE) 2-1fav (9-2) Made all, ridden approaching 2f out, asserted 1f out, stayed on well, won at Roscommon 7f 2yo mdn aut sft beating Elleval (9-2) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.

Count Of Limonade (IRE) 11-8 (9-5) Made all, strongly pressed and almost joined 1f out, soon asserted under pressure but drifted a little left, stayed on well, won at Roscommon 7f 2yo mdn sft beating Daymooma (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.

Hard Core Debt 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd on inner, driven along early straight and soon no impression, no extra final furlong, last of 5, 7l behind Flying The Flag (9-3) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo stk gs.

Smoker 10-3 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd before halfway, challenged between horses to lead over 1f out, stayed on well to draw clear final furlong, won at Down Royal 7f 2yo mdn aut sft in Jun beating Eusepio (9-5) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.