led, strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, soon headed and no extra inside final 150 yards
mid-division, 5th halfway and travelled well 2f out, ridden over 1f out and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along under 2f out and no extra inside final furlong, weakened
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, soon pushed along and ridden under 2f out, slightly short of room and lost place 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to regain 3rd close home
held up in rear, switched left before halfway, pushed along and headway on stands' side over 1f out, ridden to lead 150 yards out, edged right and kept on well
rear of mid-division, 6th halfway and pushed along on stands' side 2f out, ridden and no impression towards rear over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong
prominent, 2nd halfway, pushed along under 2f out and ridden to lead briefly 1f out, no impression on winner final 100 yards, kept on one pace
mid-division, pushed along and dropped towards rear over 2f out, soon ridden and no extra over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out and no extra inside final furlong
Gordon Lord Byron won this in 2017, one of four victories on the track, though he hasn't won subsequently. Smash Williams won his first two races as a two-year-old here but generally fails at this level but Urban Beat deserves the step up in grade after beating subsequent winner Soffia in a Naas Listed contest. St Patrick's Day failed to hit the heights last season after arriving from the USA but the fact that he's still at Ballydoyle suggests all is not lost. SPEAK IN COLOURS beat Gordon Lord Byron comfortably on his belated reappearance in a Group 3 here in August before finding Group 1 company and testing ground too much for him at Haydock and Ascot. He should be up to winning races at this level and gets the nod over Mr Lupton, a great servant to Richard Fahey with seven victories though never first-time out nor at Group 2 level. Ardhoomey was well beaten in this a year ago and is better at a slightly lower level.
Ardhoomey (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Mid-division, 6th on outer 2f out, soon ridden, 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 2l behind Urban Beat (9-9) at Naas 5f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Chessman (IRE) 7-2 (9-11) 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, 2nd of 8, nk behind Surrounding (9-9) at Naas 7f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Gobi Desert 3-1 (9-3) Held up towards outer, ridden into 4th 1 1/2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Navan 6f lst stks (1) sft in Oct beating Golden Spell (8-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders far side, headway 2f out, 4th and ridden 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 2l behind Turbine (8-5) at Cork 7f hcp gd in May.
Mr Lupton (IRE) 3-1jfav (9-5) In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden to chase winner entering final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Intense Romance (8-12) at Ascot 5f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Smash Williams (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Raced in 4th early, soon 5th, pushed along and headway under 2f out, challenged and on terms inside final furlong, headed over 50yds out, one pace after, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Imaging (9-7) at Naas 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Speak In Colours 33-1 (9-1) Always towards rear, never a factor, 12th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Sands Of Mali (9-1) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
St Patrick's Day (USA) 10-1 (9-5) Soon led, headed under 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 10th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Medicine Jack (9-5) at Navan 6f lst stks (1) Yielding in Oct.
Urban Beat (IRE) 9-4fav (9-9) Chased leaders, 4th 2f out, soon pushed along, ridden in 2nd 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, all out at line, won at Naas 5f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Soffia (9-4) by nk, 9 ran.
