soon chased leaders in 3rd, disputed 4th halfway, 3rd again and pushed along over 3f out, effort straight on inner and not much room behind horses briefly, no impression from 2f out, kept on same pace without threatening final furlong
led, soon went on, reduced lead halfway, pressed from 3f out, soon joined, headed 2 1/2f out, soon no extra
soon chased leader in 2nd, joined for that position halfway, 2nd again and pushed along 3 1/2f out, challenged from 3f out, soon on terms, led 2 1/2f out, pressed and stayed on well under pressure final furlong
waited with in rear, closed up from over 3f out, challenged over 2f out in 2nd, kept on without matching winner final furlong
waited with towards rear, keen and closed up inside 1st 4f, soon chased leader, disputed 2nd halfway, pushed along over 3f out, soon dropped to rear and weakened
soon chased leaders in 4th, 5th after halfway, 4th again over 3f out, effort straight, soon 3rd, no extra over 1f out, one pace
Last year's Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment has never won first-time-out and this will be his first start over a trip this short since 2016. He's likely to find a resurgent BROOME too quick for him, the latter completing a double when landing the Group 3 Alleged Stakes here a couple of weeks ago when he had Up Helly Aa and Helvic Dream behind. He also holds Saltonstall on his opening run at Naas while Ancient Spirit has never won over a trip this far.
Twilight Payment (IRE) (8-10) won at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp gd in Nov beating Tiger Moth (8-4) by 1/2l, 23 ran.
Ancient Spirit (GER) 3-1 (9-10) Chased leaders in 3rd, took closer order from 3f out, effort and on terms into straight, soon headed and one pace, 5th of 8, 6 1/4l behind Lope Y Fernandez (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Broome (IRE) 1-2fav (9-5) A little slow into stride and pushed along briefly early, soon chased leaders, 5th 3f out, pushed along again straight, soon effort, led and stayed on well closing stages, won at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr beating Thundering Nights (9-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Helvic Dream (IRE) 18-1 (9-8) Waited with, soon rear of mid-division, 6th and headway 3f out travelling smoothly, effort on outer straight, kept on without threatening final furlong, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Broome (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Saltonstall 11-1 (9-10) Waited with towards rear, took closer order from 3f out, effort straight, kept on without threatening winner final furlong into 2nd near finish, 2nd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Lope Y Fernandez (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Up Helly Aa (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Pushed along briefly early and led, soon raced in 2nd, closed up travelling smoothly straight, pushed along to challenge and on terms over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Broome (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
