close up on far side, weakened and behind 2f
raced far side, led after 2f and overall leader, headed over 2f out soon weakened
tracked near side leaders, led group over 1f out, ran on, not pace the far side leaders
led near side group, but not on terms from halfway, ridden 2f out soon weakened
dwelt, soon switched to far side and held up in rear, good headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong not reach leaders
raced far side, slowly into stride, in rear, kept on under pressure final furlong, never going pace to trouble leaders
held up on far side, well behind final 2f
held up rear of near side group, ridden 3f out soon beaten
slowly into stride, held up far side, hard ridden 2f out stayed on
chased near side leaders, ridden to chase group leader inside final furlong, no chance with far side leaders
raced far side, held up in mid-division, headway under pressure 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd well inside final furlong
raced on outer of far side group, mid-division weakened 2f out
raced near side, prominent, ridden 3f out soon beaten
in touch far side, no impression when hard ridden 2f out, soon beaten
close up far side, well behind final 2f
raced far side, very slowly away, well in rear, some late headway, no chance
raced far side, with leaders, led over 2f out, to well over 1f out, outpaced final furlong
chased far side leaders, led well over 1f out, headed and not quicken final 150 yards, lost 2nd well inside final furlong
prominent near side, hard ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, raced far side, held up and always behind
in touch far side, ridden and headway 2f out, quicken to lead final 150 yards soon clear
held up in rear of near side group, kept on final furlong, no chance
close up on outer near side, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly
Ayr Gold Cup first and fifth Quito and Royal Millennium make a quick return following their efforts last week and have to be respected over a trip that should not inconvenience either but with a high draw often an advantage in big fields at Ascot we take a chance with Hurricane Floyd. Admittedly Martin Pipe's five-year-old does not win very often (one win from 32 starts) but he often goes well in defeat including here over course and distance at the Royal meeting when second to Attache in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. The son of Pennekamp could not be much better berthed having been drawn in stall 27 of the 30 runners, has ground conditions to suit and at the likely odds he may be worth an investment. Alex Stewart's Lafi is held by Quito on running over this trip at Newcastle earlier in the season, while the improving Fremen has been done few favours with a draw in the middle of the field. A similar comment applies to John Gosden's Little Good Bay. The booking of Frankie Dettori for Babodana takes the eye but again he too has a poor draw, while Unshakable, who is better berthed, would prefer a softer surface or a longer trip. A bigger threat then may prove to be the well-drawn Grizedale but Hurricane Floyd has solid claims on his best form and could be a value bet.
