tracked leading pair, led on outside going well 2f out, ridden over 2 lengths clear over 1f out, stayed on gamely, headed towards finish
started very slowly, always behind
held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, closed gradually wide of winner inside final furlong to lead towards finish
raced keenly, pressed leader until over 2f out, lost modest 3rd over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in 5th, pushed along over 2f out, went modest 3rd over 1f out
tracked leading trio on inside, niggled along 4f out, weakened over 2f out
slight lead, pushed along 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
NonRunner
Poet's Word, bidding to become the first five-year-old to win this in 20 years, was beaten out of sight by Cracksman in the Champion Stakes here last year but reversed that form in last month’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes when John Gosden’s colt, who just edged out Salouen in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, again showed signs of temperament. Cracksman may not even run in this unless the ground eases, though rain is forecast. CRYSTAL OCEAN (NAP), a stablemate of Poet’s Word, goes from strength-to-strength and is unbeaten this year. Last year’s St Leger runner-up is a high-class middle-distance performer nowadays judged on his win in the Hardwicke Stakes here last month when he quickened to lead off a strong pace and only had to be pushed out to maintain a healthy advantage. Coronet could be overpriced considering she finished ahead of Salouen when just edged out in a Group 1 at Saint Cloud last month having won the Middleton Stakes at York on her reappearance. Hydrangea has been well below par this year so Irish Derby second Rostropovich may prove the pick of the Ballydoyle duo.
Crystal Ocean 4-7fav (9-1) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Red Verdon (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Emotionless (9-6) at Newbury 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Poet's Word (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Held up in 5th, good headway on outside over 2f out, 2nd entering final 2f, led over 1f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Cracksman (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Salouen (IRE) (9-3) 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Waldgeist (9-3) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Coronet (8-13) 2nd of 8, shd behind Waldgeist (9-3) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Hydrangea (IRE) 7-4fav (9-5) Tracked leader, pushed along and edged right over 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Aljazzi (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 fll stks (1) gf in Jun.
Rostropovich (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Prominent, led after 1f, strongly pressed and joined over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, headed near finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Latrobe (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Cracksman 2-5fav (9-0) Slowly into stride and never travelling in 4th, headway on outside and forced wide on home turn, ridden to lead approaching final 2f, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Poet's Word (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.