Gladness Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 1m 34.97s

(4)

Psychedelic Funk^b¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 108| C| D

5/1

Classy juvenile who has performed consistently well throughout his racing career. Three time course winner (1,1,2,1) who was recording a first Group 3 success when edging out Downforce by ½L at Tipperary in October. Stiffer task at revised weights.

Form: 231431-

(3)

Downforce⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 109| D

5/2

Took the Listed Cork Stakes for the second year in succession last week (5f+ Navan), which was a vast improvement on his seasonal reappearance effort. Has previous form with Psychedelic Funk, and could reverse placings on 5lb better terms.

Form: 2529-91

(1)

Larchmont Lad¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 106| D

10/3

English raider who lost the Listed Knockaire Stakes (7f Leopardstown) to Making Light in the Stewards room on his last visit to Ireland in late October 2017. Commands respect at the revised weights, and is very much a 7f specialist.

Form: 92403D-

(2)

Making Light¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Leigh Roche| T: D K Weld| OR: 101| C| D

2/1

Filly who arrives seeking the hat-trick and a fifth career success after 7f (Leopardstown) and 1m (Naas) victories. Has guaranteed race fitness, but at the revised weights, there's not much between her and Larchmont Lad.

Form: 32721-1

(5)

War Secretary³⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100| D

12/1

Took in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April 2017 on an upward curve following a pair of 7f AW victories (Dundalk), but bombed out badly after rearing in the stalls. Absent since and tough to assess accordingly.

Form: 71/10-

(6)

Simmie¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Foley| T: A Keatley| OR: 92

20/1

A 5f+ Listed winner at Chantilly for Sylvester Kirk on her final start as a juvenile in November 2016 but no joy in four starts for Karl Burke last term. Put firmly in her place by Making Light on her recent reappearance.

Form: 1/2588-4

Forecasts

Making Light (2/1), Downforce (5/2), Larchmont Lad (10/3), Psychedelic Funk (5/1), War Secretary (12/1), Simmie (20/1)

As the market suggests it's possible to make a case for the bulk of the field; bar Simmie. Making Light seeks the hat-trick and has clearly returned to action from her winter break fresh and well (unseated her rider prior to winning over 1m here last month). She was the beneficiary of the demotion of Larchmont Lad at Leopardstown last back-end, so it's incredibly tough to choose between the pair. Similar comments apply to old foes DOWNFORCE and Naas regular Psychedelic Funk, but the Willie McCreery trained six-year-old is generally most productive early doors, and he's the tentative option to build upon a second straight Cork Stakes victory.