held up rear of mid-division, headway when not much room over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no impression, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and close up 2f out, one pace over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, well held from over 1f out
tracked leaders on inside, going well when not clear run over 2f out, soon switched left, quickened to lead over 1f out, always comfortably doing enough to hold rivals after
mid-division, took keen hold, headway on inside over 4f out, driven over 2f out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, went 4th and edged right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never quite able to challenge
held up in rear, ridden and well behind over 2f out, tailed off
led, pushed along over 3f out, headed over 2f out, held by winner final furlong, stayed on, took 2nd post
mid-division, effort and switched left over 2f out, ridden and beaten over 1f out, well held 5th final 100 yards
disputed lead 2f, close 2nd until led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, held by winner final furlong, stayed on, lost 2nd post
held up in rear, ridden and switched left over 1f out, some progress but never threatened
It's difficult to oppose STRADIVARIUS (NAP), the winner of his last six starts including this a year ago and the Champions Long Distance Cup on the track in October from Thomas Hobson. He rarely wins easily but beat a very strong field in this last year and can take care of a couple of young pretenders to his crown. Cross Counter has announced himself on the world stage with victories in the Melbourne Cup and Dubai Gold Cup since stepping up to 2m. He's never been this far nor met a stayer of the selection's quality but is progressing fast. He beat Dee Ex Bee over four lengths in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last August, though that result may not have much of a bearing here as it was over a mile less and the runner-up has improved dramatically since stepping up to 2m. Capri and Flag Of Honour represent Ballydoyle but the former has been very disappointing and the latter was beaten by the selection here in October.
Called To The Bar (IRE) (8-13) won at Longchamp 1m 7f Grp 2 in May beating Way To Paris (8-13) by 3l, 11 ran.
Capri (IRE) 9-10fav (9-5) Led, disputed briefly early, pushed along into straight, pressed over 2f out, soon joined, headed over 1f out, soon switched right, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong and one pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Twilight Payment (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 6f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Magic Circle (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) In touch, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, keeping on same pace and lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Morando (9-3) at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in May.
Stradivarius (IRE) 4-5fav (9-4) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and closed over 3f out, challenged over 1f out, led entering final furlong, stayed on well and holding 2nd final 100 yards, won comfortably in the end, won at York 1m 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May beating Southern France (9-1) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Thomas Hobson (9-2) 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Raa Atoll (9-0) at Hoppegarten 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May.
Cross Counter 7-4fav (8-9) won at Meydan 2m Grp 2 gd in Mar beating Ispolini (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Cypress Creek (IRE) 100-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 29 1/2l behind Defoe (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Dee Ex Bee 4-7fav (9-4) Made all, pushed along and wound up the pace from 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Mekong (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Flag Of Honour (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Led, pushed along and pressed over 2f out, soon ridden and headed, no extra and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Magical (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Master Of Reality (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Prominent, soon 3rd, pushed along approaching straight, under pressure under 2f out and edged slightly left, soon no impression and one pace, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Twilight Payment (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m 6f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in May.
Raymond Tusk (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Tracked leading pair, quick move to lead approaching final 3f, ridden and headed 2f out, chased winner, well held when lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, held on for 3rd, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Crystal Ocean (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
