led, ridden and headed inside final 2f, weakened quickly over 1f out
held up in mid-division, pushed along and weakened over 2f out
steadied start, held up towards rear, headway when not clear run and switched right inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
raced keenly, tracked leaders with no cover, pushed along over 2f out, went 2nd and every chance entering final furlong, kept on but no extra towards finish
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, ridden and headed 1f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened into 4th inside final 100 yards
held up in mid-division, good headway near side of group over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, ran on well and found extra towards finish
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd inside final 100 yards, never going pace of leading duo
pulled hard, steadied towards rear 7f out, edged right and no headway final 2f
wore hood to post, raced keenly tracking leaders on far rail, not clear run and switched left over 2f out, no headway after
held up in rear, not clear run and switched right to inside over 1f out, tenderly handled and ran on towards finish, never threatened
PALACE PIER suffered his only defeat so far when only third in this last year but today’s better ground is in his favour. He repeated last year’s success in the Group 1 Jacques le Marois in France last time and collateral form gives him the beating of Baaeed. The latter remains unbeaten after landing his first Group 1 with a victory in France last month and the Haggas colt may not have finished improving yet. Last year’s winner The Revenant disappointed at Longchamp on Arc weekend and dual Group 1 winner Alcohol Free makes more appeal back over today’s trip having struggled in the Juddmonte International at York. The 2000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas found Benbatl too good in a Group 2 at Newmarket on his first outing since while Mother Earth finished ahead of Lady Bowthorpe in the Falmouth at Newmarket before winning the Prix Rothschild in soft ground at Deauville.
Benbatl 13-8 (9-4) Led centre group and overall leader until over 4f out, switched left to press leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on (new track record), won at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep beating Pogo (9-4) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Lord Glitters (FR) 7-5fav (9-3) Held up, nudged along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, plugged on into fourth 1f out, never in contention, 4th of 5, 8 3/4l behind Artistic Rifles (9-3) at Haydock 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Njord (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, not quicked when ridden 3f out, 11th of 16, 7 1/2l behind Space Blues (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Oct.
Palace Pier 8-11 (9-5) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and led final furlong, ran on well, won at Deauville 1m Grp 1 gd in Aug beating Poetic Flare (8-12) by nk, 8 ran.
The Revenant 2-1 (9-2) Mid-division, good headway from 2f out, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Real World (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 2 sft in Oct.
Baaeed 1-2 (8-13) Always handy, headway to lead 1f out, ridden and stayed on strongly, won at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 1 gs in Sep beating Order Of Australia (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Lady Bowthorpe 7-4 (8-13) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Grand Glory (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gs in Aug.
Master Of The Seas (IRE) 11-8fav (9-0) Tracked leaders stand side, pushed along and headway 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, soon switched left, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Benbatl (9-4) at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Alcohol Free (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden well over 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Mishriff (9-6) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Mother Earth (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Close up centre, tracked leaders 3f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Saffron Beach (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Oct.
