prominent, led over 1 1/2f out, stayed on well to assert inside final furlong
soon raced in 6th, switched right to outer under 2f out, one pace 1 1/2f out
dwelt, soon towards rear in 7th, one pace 1 1/2f out
soon raced in 4th, travelling smoothly straight, pushed along 1 1/2f out, chased winner final furlong, soon no impression, kept on same pace
dwelt, in rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon no impression
prominent, challenged and every chance straight until one pace from 1 1/2f out
quick away to lead, headed over 1 1/2f out, soon no extra and one pace
soon raced in 5th, travelling smoothly straight, pushed along 1 1/2f out, soon one pace
NO NEEDS NEVER won a Listed contest here as a juvenile and was narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes at Naas in April after a long break. He would be difficult to beat in that kind of form. Bowerman ran five times on the all-weather in the UK and won three times. He won on soft ground at Gowran in September but never got into contention in a Tipperary Group 3 a couple of weeks later. Yuften has an excellent record around here and showed he wasn't just up to winning claiming races when landing a handicap in great style three weeks ago. Annie Fior, three times a winner on Turf, is 1-14 on the all-weather but was racing in strong company last summer and would have a chance on her close third in a Group 2 at the Curragh in July.
Bowerman 12-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, towards rear, never a factor, ridden and no impression early straight, no extra, kept on one pace final furlong, 9th of 12, 11 3/4l behind Yulong Gold Fairy (9-2) at Tipperary 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Hey Pretty (IRE) 28-1 (8-8) Towards rear, pushed along entering straight, kept on one pace inside final furlong, never a factor, 8th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Drombeg Duke (8-8) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Mere Ironmonger 25-1 (9-6) Slowly away, in rear, pushed along and some headway on inner 2f out, no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Paris Duvet (9-0) at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Dec.
No Needs Never (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) 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, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Imaging (9-7) at Naas 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Wave Walker 25-1 (9-5) Tracked leader and led after 2f, pushed along and headed early straight, soon no extra and dropped towards rear 1f out, weakened, 12th of 13, 20 1/4l behind Paris Duvet (9-0) at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Dec.
Yuften 6-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, closer 2f out, pushed along and headway to lead over 1f out, soon ridden and drew clear inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Dec beating Tommy Taylor (8-4) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Annie Fior (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Slowly away and always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along and no impression early straight, no extra, last of 12, 11 1/2l behind Goddess (9-0) at Curragh 1m 1f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gd in Aug.
Basrah Breeze (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along from halfway, 6th 3f out, no extra from over 1f out, 11th of 24, 17 3/4l behind Make Me Sway (9-0) at Curragh 1m hcp sft in Sep.
