switched right start, held up last, headway and plugged on 2f out, hung right and weakened final furlong
tracked leader, taken wide to race alone on far side rail over 6f out, re-joined main group leaders approaching straight, ridden and edged right when unable to quicken 2f out, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, 2nd 4f out until pushed along and hung right 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd 2f out until over 1f out, 2nd again towards finish, never any chance with impressive winner
led, pushed along and headed over 2f out, chased winner until 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and no response 2f out, never involved
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final 2f
well placed tracking leaders, 2nd 3f out, led over 2f out, came clear final 2f, stayed on strongly, impressive
held up in last trio, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, 2nd over 1f out until no extra lost 2 places and slightly hampered towards finish
CRACKSMAN followed a neck defeat by Capri in the Irish Derby by looking imperious in the Great Voltiguer at York and the Prix Niel at Chantilly, all over 1m4f. The latter pair were on ground with some give and, though taking on very strong opposition over shorter, he can make his stamina count and land his first Group 1. He finished just behind Cliffs Of Moher when Aidan O'Brien's colt was mugged by stable companion Wings Of Eagles at Epsom but their subsequent careers have gone in different directions and Ballydoyle look to have a better chance with the admirable Highland Reel, who beat subsequent Group 1 winners Decorated Knight and Ulysses in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes here in June before a rare lacklustre run in the King George. Barney Roy won the St James's Palace Stakes before just failing to catch Ulysses in the Eclipse then ran out of steam in the Juddmonte at York after taking on Churchill. He's certain to go well while Brametot, a short-head winner in both the French 2000 Guineas and Derby, and Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Poet's Word can also get into the action in what should be a thriller.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, won at Newbury 1m 3f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Second Step (9-3) by nk, 11 ran.
Highland Reel (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, taken wide in back straight, went 2nd 7f out until pushed along over 3f out, hung right and one pace in 4th final furlong, 4th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Enable (8-7) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Jul.
Maverick Wave (USA) 100-1 (9-7) Led and set decent pace, headed over 2f out, weakened and eased, 8th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Enable (8-7) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Jul.
Poet's Word (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, ridden 1 1/2f out, closed 1f out, almost on terms final 100 yards, kept on, not match winner close home, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Decorated Knight (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Success Days (IRE) 40-1 (9-7) Tracked clear leader, 2nd halfway, closed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, eased close home, last of 10, 12 3/4l behind Decorated Knight (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Barney Roy 11-4 (8-13) Handy on outside, pressing leader 9f out, led 3f out, driven over 1f out, headed and edged left inside final furlong, 3rd and no extra close home, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Ulysses (9-6) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Brametot (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) 5th of 18, 6 1/2l behind Enable (8-9) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 1 gs in Oct.
Cliffs Of Moher (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Towards rear, progress to 5th halfway, not much room on inner 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Decorated Knight (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Cracksman (9-2) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 stks gd in Sep beating Avilius (9-2) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Recoletos (FR) (9-2) won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Plumatic (9-2) by shd, 6 ran.
