tracked leader, challenged 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, soon outpaced and no chance with winner
led, joined 2f out, headed over 1f out, chased leaders, weakened towards finish
wore hood to post, held up and bit keen tracking leaders, pushed along 3f out, headway on outside over 2f out, soon ridden not quicken and wandered, stayed on into 3rd towards finish
pulled hard early, soon held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, soon tracking leaders on outside, pushed along to challenge 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened towards finish
raced keenly, held up in last pair, headway when not clear run and switched left over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon clear
wore hood to post, raced keenly in 5th on inside, bit closer halfway, switched left chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, weakened towards finish
JAPAN needed his first run of the season last year but did little wrong after. He won the King Edward VII Stakes here and went on to record Group 1 victories in the Grand Prix de Paris and the Juddmonte International before a brave fourth in the Arc. If he’s fully wound-up, the Ballydoyle star should take all the beating. The ground has turned against Addeybb but Barney Roy is respected. He did well in Dubai at the start of the year and stays 1m2f, even though all of his victories have come over shorter trips. Headman won a couple of Group 2 contests in France last year and may have gone over the top when only fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes but Aidan O’Brien should know where he stands with Roger Charlton’s colt. This looks a little too hot for the Gosden pair Lord North and Mehdaayih and also Bangkok.
Addeybb (IRE) (9-4) won at Randwick 1m 2f Grp 1 stks sft in Apr beating Verry Elleegant (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Bangkok (IRE) 8-13fav (9-0) Raced keenly in touch, chased winner over 5f out until ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Dubai Warrior (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Feb.
Barney Roy (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 1 gd in Mar beating Magic Lily (8-9) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Headman 11-2 (9-1) A little awkward leaving stalls and slowly into stride, towards rear and raced on outer, pushed along to chase leaders from 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Magical (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Japan (8-12) 4th of 12, 4l behind Waldgeist (9-5) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Lord North (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Led early, chased leaders, switched left over 2f out, led well over 1f out, soon quickened, reduced lead inside final 100 yards, held on, won at Haydock 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Jun beating Elarqam (9-0) by shd, 5 ran.
Mehdaayih 16-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, soon closed, no impression final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Magical (9-2) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
