in touch, pushed along 2f out, headway inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
tracked winner, pushed along 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
in rear, headway and switched left over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish
made all, shaken up over 1f out, ran on, readily
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
steadied start, always in rear, weakened 2f out
Dark Devil has the advantage of a recent run in the Spring Mile at Doncaster but his only victory of last year came in an amateurs' race on heavy going at Chester and this is a vastly different track. ACLIMATISE (NAP) improved with each run in his first campaign, culminating in a maiden success at Thirsk in July. He has a long absence to contend with but may well turn out to be better than an 82-rated handicapper. Trading Point looked one to follow after a maiden victory at Haydock in 2016 but only had two runs last term and has changed yards. His former handler John Quinn has Ascot Week engaged and he's run a bit better than his form figures suggest.
Dark Devil (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) In touch centre group, pushed along and weakened over 2f out, 17th of 20, 26 3/4l behind High Acclaim (8-10) at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Aclimatise 11-4 (9-5) Raced wide, pressed leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, ran on, won at Thirsk 1m mdn stks (5) gf in Jul beating Spinnaka (9-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Jacbequick 12-1 (9-8) Soon led, headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 8, 15l behind Gabrial's Star (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Trading Point (FR) 11-2jfav (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway near side of group chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, last of 12, 14 1/2l behind Colonel Frank (9-0) at Newbury 1m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Palmerston 40-1 (9-5) Raced wide in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 14, 11 1/2l behind Whosyourhousemate (9-3) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Zeshov (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, challenged 2f out, ridden and no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Caramuru (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Ascot Week (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 13, 5 1/2l behind International Law (8-13) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Feb.