held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on into 2nd post, no chance with winner
mid-division, pushed along chasing leaders over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
pulled hard, led over 2f, settled in touch, ridden chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened and eased over 1f out
led after 2 1/2f, headed 5f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened rapidly, tailed off
slowly away, always behind
slowly away, towards rear, behind final 5f, tailed off
keen early, soon towards rear, behind final 3f, tailed off
mid-division on inside, travelling well when switched left over 2f out, soon tracking leaders, led over 1f out, veered sharply left inside final furlong, soon straightened and in command
took keen hold, tracked leaders until weakened quickly well over 2f out
slowly into stride, always towards rear
held up towards rear, hampered by weakening rival over 3f out, switched left 2f out, never able to get on terms after
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, went 2nd and slightly impeded entering final furlong, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
pulled hard, tracked leader after 4f until 10f out, 2nd again over 4f out, led 3f out until over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd inside final 2f, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, lost 2nd entering final furlong, kept on same pace in 4th
keen towards rear, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out
pulled hard early tracking leaders, headway tracking leader and keen 10f out, led 5f out until 3f out, chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
Thomas Hobson won the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f here last year before finishing runner-up in this only four days later. He arrives fresh this time having finished sixth in the Melbourne Cup in November and Willie Mullins’ charge is the one to beat. He’s preferred to stable companions Meri Devi and Renneti but a chance is taken COUNT OCTAVE improves for today’s marathon trip given he was beaten only a neck by this week’s Gold Cup hero Stradivarius in last year’s Queen Vase over 1m6f here - Andrew Balding’s four-year-old gets the nod. Light Pillar is another of interest on only his third start for Joseph O’Brien having placed for Andre Fabre in Listed company in France last year but Glencadam Glory will have to settle better than he did over 2m at Sandown last time if he’s to last home. A smart stayer on the Flat, Pallasator has been winning in top company over hurdles for Gordon Elliott, who sent out the winner in 2016, while Nearly Caught finished ahead of stablemate Fun Mac when winning the Listed Esher Stakes over 2m at Sandown last year and is another with a shout on these terms
Renneti (FR) 16-1 (9-10) Led, pressed 4f out, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, no extra entering straight and dropped to rear, weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 22 3/4l behind Order Of St George (9-12) at Leopardstown 1m 6f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Fun Mac (GER) 15-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 6l behind Magic Circle (9-3) at Chester 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Nearly Caught (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) 2nd of 12, 1l behind Sound Check (9-2) at Hoppegarten 2m Grp 2 stks gd in May.
Fort Jefferson 8-11fav (10-1) Led after 2f, shaken up over 1f out, ran on comfortable, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (5) gf in Jun beating Archipeligo (9-5) by 4l, 4 ran.
Guard Of Honour (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Held up in last pair, headway towards inside when not clear run and bumped inside final 3f, ridden and no impression in 3rd when hung right over 1f out, weakened into 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 9, 8 3/4l behind Mancini (9-5) at Goodwood 2m hcp (3) gf in Jun.
L'Attesa (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, dropped towards rear and reminders 6th, soon ridden and pulled up before next, at Clonmel 2m 2f hcp Yielding in Sep.
Le Maitre Chat (USA) 40-1 (9-6) Close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Waiting For Richie (8-7) at York 2m hcp (3) gf in May.
Pallasator 11-4jfav (11-10) Held up, 7th before 4th, closed on outer and slight mistake 3 out, soon pushed along, left chasing leaders from 2 out, soon no impression and not fluent last, one pace, 5th of 9, 26 1/4l behind Dortmund Park (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Pearl Dragon (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, no impression from 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 21, dist behind I Am Sailing (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar.
Tempestatefloresco 16-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, hard driven when blundered 3 out, rallied closing stages, kept on well, 4th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Theatrebar (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Thomas Hobson 20-1 (8-2) 6th of 23, 9 1/4l behind Rekindling (8-1) at Flemington 2m Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Count Octave 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden 4f out, one pace and beaten over 1f out, 5th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Stradivarius (9-1) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Glencadam Glory 12-1 (9-1) Led to post, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Magic Circle (9-2) at Sandown 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Light Pillar (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Led, headed briefly after 1f, pushed along under 2f out, soon ridden and headed final 100 yards, no impression on winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Law Girl (10-9) at Listowel 1m 7f gd in Jun.
Uber Cool (IRE) 3-1fav (9-9) Keen tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, just held on, won at Goodwood 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Pointel (9-8) by ns, 9 ran.
Meri Devie (FR) 12-1 (9-1) Always behind, 13th of 19, 7 1/2l behind Lagostovegas (9-3) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.