wore hood to post, slowly into stride, held up in last pair and bit keen, closer on inside 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and beaten inside final 2f
led after 1f, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon outpaced and weakened quickly
led by rider part of way to start, waited with in 6th on inside, rider looking for room from over 2f out, not clear run and angled out just inside final 2f, stayed on into 3rd over 1f out, ridden and battled on gamely towards finish, always held
held up in mid-division, good headway out wide tracking leaders over 2f out, led inside final 2f, ridden and hung right to inside rail over 1f out, driven and pressed inside final furlong, stayed on strongly to assert final 100 yards
held up off the pace in last trio, headway out wide 2f out, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, strong challenge inside final furlong, found no extra and held final 100 yards
tracked leader after 1f, led over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, hung right and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders in 3rd on inside, pushed along turning in, ridden and weakened 2f out
steadied rear, good headway on inside 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace in 4th inside final furlong
tracked leaders out wide, challenged 2f out, soon ridden and carried right, weakened over 1f out
Stradivarius is bidding to win this for the fourth time and made a winning reappearance at York but was only fourth when odds-on last year, more than two lengths behind runner-up Princess Zoe, and he has come off worse in recent clashes with Trueshan. Alan King’s grand stayer would have been the selection had there been some rain around but he probably won’t take his chance if firm is mentioned in the going. Burning Victory was second in last year’s Cesarewitch so will stay but she lacks the class for a race like this. Kyprios is a full brother to the Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight and was always going to make a stayer. He is the unknown quantity in this and will probably take all the beating if on the heels of the leaders off the final turn but TASHKHAN might offer more value. The latter gives every impression he’ll relish a first try over this trip and it would be no surprise if he took a big step forward after a couple of respectable runs here and at York.
Alignak 33-1 (9-1) Rear early, ran off from 2f out, 4th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Stay Foolish (9-1) at Meydan 2m Grp 2 (1) fst in Mar.
Earlofthecotswolds (FR) 10-3jfav (9-5) Made virtually all, quickened over 2f out, driven over 1f out, pressed final furlong, held on gamely, won at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Apr beating Marshall Plan (9-3) by nk, 12 ran.
Stradivarius (IRE) 6-4fav (9-6) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 3f out, progress over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at York 1m 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May beating Thunderous (9-3) by 1l, 5 ran.
Kyprios (IRE) 1-10fav (9-5) Made all, pushed along 3f out, ridden clear 2f out, stayed on strongly and went further clear final furlong, very easily, impressive, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Sunchart (9-5) by 14l, 4 ran.
Mojo Star (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden 1f out, faded final furlong, 10th of 15, 6 1/2l behind Torquator Tasso (9-5) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Oct.
Tashkhan (IRE) 17-2 (9-3) Held up in rear, ridden over 4f out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Stradivarius (9-6) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May.
Bubble Smart 2-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, stayed on one pace, 6th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Skazino (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 2 stks sft in May.
Burning Victory (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leader, closer in 2nd before 5th, pushed along 2 out and dropped to 5th entering straight, no impression approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 9, 8 1/4l behind Marie's Rock (11-5) at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) gd in Apr.
Princess Zoe (GER) 17-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, held in pocket on rail 3f out, switched out over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Ascot 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Apr beating Quickthorn (9-2) by hd, 6 ran.
Trueshan (FR) 4-9fav (9-8) Keen, tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, ran on, comfortable, won at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stks (1) gs in Apr beating Quickthorn (9-1) by 3l, 4 ran.
