taken to race initially towards far side, chased leader in main group, joined main group halfway, led and wandered left 2f out, ridden and hung left 1f out, headed inside final 150 yards, no extra in 3rd close home
held up in mid-division, headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, just failed
always about same place in mid-division, ridden and no headway over 1f out
unruly in stalls and slowly away, behind and no chance after
chased main group leader until halfway, soon weakened, behind and eased final 2f
held up and always towards rear
chased leaders, 2nd over 1f out, challenge and carried left 1f out, led inside final 150 yards, held on gamely under pressure, all out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders halfway, kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, some late headway, never involved
overall leader until 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up tracking leaders, not much room approaching final 2f, ran on inside final furlong, not quite enough pace to threaten
Harry Angel found only Caravaggio too good in the Commonwealth Cup here last year with Bound For Nowhere back in fourth. Clive Cox’ sprinter has won a couple of Group 1 sprints subsequently and warmed up for this with a cosy win at York on his reappearance. Merchant Navy made a winning start for Aidan O’Brien in a Group 2 at the Curragh having previously raced in Australia but he only finished third at Flemington in March behind REDKIRK WARRIOR (NAP), despite receiving 12lb. The latter has won three times at the highest level Down Under and looks sure to make a bold bid in this partnered by Frankie Dettori. The Tin Man had Librisa Breeze back in fourth when landing last year’s renewal and beat Projection at Windsor on his reappearance. But he found Harry Angel too good on a couple of occasions last season while French raider City Light will find this much tougher than when winning the All-Weather Sprint Championships at Lingfield in March.
Bound For Nowhere (USA) 17-2 (8-8) Took over 4w, widened, won at Keeneland 5f stks sft in Apr beating Bucchero (8-10) by 4l, 12 ran.
City Light (FR) (8-13) won at Longchamp 5f Grp 3 stks gd in May beating Gold Vibe (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
D'bai (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, switched left over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on well, won at Haydock 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Larchmont Lad (9-0) by hd, 7 ran.
Harry Angel (IRE) 4-9fav (9-13) Restless in stalls, well away, raced keenly tracking leader, led over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on well, won at York 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May beating Brando (9-8) by 2l, 5 ran.
Intelligence Cross (USA) 16-1 (9-3) Soon led, headed before halfway, no extra from over 1f out, 7th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Merchant Navy (9-6) at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Librisa Breeze 6-1 (9-0) 9th of 13, 8 1/4l behind Jungle Cat (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Merchant Navy (AUS) 9-2 (9-6) Dwelt, in rear, headway to chase leaders from over 1f out, challenged and led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May beating Spirit of Valor (9-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Projection 4-1 (9-5) Chased leading pair, challenged 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never going pace of winner, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind The Tin Man (9-5) at Windsor 6f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Redkirk Warrior (9-1) won at Flemington 6f gd in Mar beating Brave Smash (8-13) by shd, 15 ran.
Sir Dancealot (IRE) 5-6fav (9-4) Close up on outer, pushed along 2f out, headway to press leader approaching final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, just held on, won at Hamilton 6f stks (2) gd in Jun beating Kimberella (9-4) by ns, 5 ran.
Spirit of Valor (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, led before halfway, attempted to assert from 2f out, soon edged right, headed and kept on without matching winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Merchant Navy (9-6) at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
The Tin Man 7-4fav (9-5) Held up in touch in last trio, headway on wide outside over 2f out, chased leader and carried left over 1f out, soon quickened to lead, ran on well, won at Windsor 6f lst stks (1) gf in May beating D'bai (9-5) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
