tracked leaders on inside, weakened inside final 2f
dwelt, held up in last pair, headway and 5 wide on home turn, chased leaders over 2f out, challenged 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong to lead towards finish, won going away
held up in rear, angled out and good headway between horses over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden to challenge, led 100 yards out, headed and no extra towards finish
slight lead 2f, tracked leader, pushed along halfway, lost 2nd over 3f out, weakened and behind over 2f out
forced to race wide, tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, every chance 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, lost remote 4th post
raced wide early, tracked leader until went on 6f out, pushed along and joined 2f out, ridden and headed 100 yards out, no extra towards finish
The score between PINATUBO and Wichita stands at one-all after the Ballydoyle colt’s second place in the 2000 Guineas. That ended the unbeaten run of the Godolphin runner but the classic was run on fast ground and this much softer surface will better suit the Shamardal colt. Palace Pier is the relatively unknown quantity but this is a huge step up from the Newcastle handicap in which he took a long time to master Acquitted, who was well beaten in another handicap here on Thursday. Threat won Group 2 contests at York and Doncaster last year but could get found out against proven top-class milers and Positive is held by the selection on juvenile form. Arizona and Royal Dornoch might be pacemakers for their better-fancied stable companion.
Arizona (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 15, 19 1/2l behind Kameko (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Palace Pier 11-10fav (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon quickened clear, easily, won at Newcastle 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun beating Acquitted (8-10) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Pinatubo (IRE) 5-6fav (9-0) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Kameko (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Positive 8-1 (9-1) In touch in rear, pushed along over 2f out, never nearer, 6th of 9, 11 3/4l behind Pinatubo (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Royal Dornoch (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never near leaders, 10th of 15, 18 3/4l behind Kameko (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Threat (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Earthlight (9-0) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Wichita (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 15, nk behind Kameko (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
