raced in 5th early, soon 6th, switched right under 3f out and soon not clear run, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
a little awkward leaving stalls, in rear, pushed along under 2f out, some headway on outer 1f out, ran on without reaching front pair inside final furlong
raced in 3rd, pushed along under 3f out, switched left 2f out, no extra and one pace inside final furlong
soon led, pushed along under 2f out, joined inside final furlong, soon headed and one pace
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
raced in 2nd, pushed along under 3f out, no extra and one pace inside final furlong
waited with, raced in 8th, dropped to last 1 1/2f out, soon no extra
raced in 6th early and a little keen, soon 4th, headway straight, pushed along under 2f out, challenged and on terms over 50yds out, soon headed and kept on without matching winner
Psychedelic Funk won this on his reappearance a year ago, his fourth victory on the track. He's been gelded since a poor run at Tipperary in October but won first time out here as a juvenile so obviously goes well fresh. Romanised was a surprise winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, for which he's penalised, and though failing to add to that victory completed at the highest level. He had finished over three lengths behind Imaging on his first start last term and Dermot Weld's charge is fit from landing a Listed contest at Leopardstown, though was a neck behind Smash Williams on the same track in October and the latter made a very creditable reappearance over a trip too short at Navan. LE BRIVIDO won the Jersey Stakes for Andre Fabre last term and looks a fine acquisition for Aidan O'Brien so can make a successful debut for the yard. No three-year-old has won this since 2001 so No Needs Never has a lot to do.
Romanised (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Mid-division, some headway over 2f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 12 1/4l behind Roaring Lion (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Imaging 3-1 (9-8) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, headway between horses under 2f out and led 1f out, ridden to assert and kept on well inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr beating Zihba (9-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Le Brivido (FR) 6-5fav (9-7) Close up, ridden over 1f out, not pace to challenge, not trouble leaders, 6th of 8, 3l behind Brando (9-7) at Newmarket 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Nebo (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders over 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 11, 12 1/2l behind Tabarrak (9-3) at Redcar 7f lst stks (1) gd in Oct.
Psychedelic Funk 9-2 (9-8) Raced in 3rd early, chased leaders, effort on outer straight, no extra from 1 1/2f out, last of 9, 20 1/2l behind Yulong Gold Fairy (9-0) at Tipperary 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Smash Williams (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Mid-division early, closed and not much room under 2f out, challenged over 1f out, soon on terms, quickly headed and kept on well without quite matching front pair, 3rd of 15, 1/4l behind Sergei Prokofiev (9-0) at Navan 6f lst stks (1) gd in Mar.
Texas Rock (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Soon led, pushed along early straight, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, 3rd and no impression final 150 yards, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Annie Fior (8-4) at Leopardstown 7f hcp sft in Apr.
Ellthea (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Soon raced in 6th, switched right under 3f out and effort, one pace 1f out, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Normandel (9-11) at Naas 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Mar.
No Needs Never (IRE) 15-8fav (9-3) Rear of mid-division, 6th halfway, travelled well approaching straight, ridden in 5th over 1f out, one paced final furlong, 5th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Coral Beach (9-0) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct.
