held up towards rear, plugged on final 2f, never involved
tracked leaders in 5th, smooth headway on outside over 3f out, led over 2f out, narrowly headed over 1f out, stayed pressing winner and battled on until no extra towards finish
held up towards rear on inside, never involved, tailed off
soon tracking leaders on outside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, lost modest 4th final strides
slowly into stride, towards rear, reminders 5f out, never a factor, tailed off
held up last, headway on outside edging right over 2f out, plugged on in 4th final strides
raced keenly in mid-division, headway on inside 4f out, went 3rd 2f out, kept on final furlong, no chance with 1st 2
forced to race wide, held up towards rear, good headway on outside on home turn, went 2nd 2f out, inside final 3f, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, battled on gamely to assert towards finish
led for 1f, tracked leader who went clear 8f out, lost 2nd inside final 3f, weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along inside final 5f, weakened over 3f out, behind and eased final 2f
led after 1f and went clear 8f out, reduced lead over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly
Having won 11 of her 12 career starts, few will want to oppose the 2017 winner Enable in this. Her last three victories have come at the highest level – the Arc, Breeders’ Cup Turf and Coral-Eclipse – and she’s a genuine superstar. But she’s had just three weeks to recover from her reappearance at Sandown and the still-improving CRYSTAL OCEAN can certainly make a race of it here. Sir Michael Stoute’s record in this contest is second to none and his five-year-old currently tops the Longines World Best Racehorse rankings. He’s only rated a pound lower than the odds-on favourite but is three-times the price, despite a line through Magical suggesting there is nothing between the pair. Defoe has won the Coronation Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes this year and is finally fulfilling his potential but a further step up is required here. Waldgeist is a three-times Group 1 winner but held by the market leaders on past form while Yasuo Tomomichi’s raider Cheval Grand hasn’t won since landing the Japan Cup in 2017. Anthony Van Dyck won the Epsom Derby but failed to follow up in the Irish equivalent and there is a big question mark over the value of three-year-old form against quality older horses this year
Cheval Grand (JPN) 22-1 (9-0) 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Old Persian (8-13) at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Crystal Ocean 3-1 (9-0) Soon tracking leader, taken wide in straight, challenged 2f out, soon ridden to lead, hung left under pressure over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Jun beating Magical (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Defoe (IRE) 11-4fav (9-1) Held up in 6th on outside, pushed along 3f out, switched left and headway towards outside over 2f out, 2nd inside final 2f, went right and led over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well, won at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jun beating Nagano Gold (9-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Hunting Horn (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Led and set even pace, ridden and headed 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened final final furlong, 6th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Enable (9-4) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Morando (FR) 12-1 (9-1) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, pushed along 3f out, hung right from over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Defoe (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Salouen (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Led, pushed along and headed 2f out, soon lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 9l behind Defoe (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Waldgeist 4-1 (9-0) Held up off the pace in 6th, headway towards outside 2f out, stayed on into never dangerous 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Crystal Ocean (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Enable 4-6fav (9-4) Shade keen, tracked leader, led going well 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul beating Magical (9-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Magic Wand (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Led, headed after 2f and 2nd halfway, headway entering straight and led again 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, no impression and hampered inside final 100 yards, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Iridessa (8-12) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Chased leaders, soon moderate 4th, pushed along under 4f out, moderate 3rd over 2f out, 2nd inside final furlong and kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Sovereign (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.
Norway (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Led early, raced in 2nd and clear of remainder, pushed along over 3f out, not match winner from 2f out, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong and one pace, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Sovereign (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.
