towards rear, pushed along from 5f out, soon no danger
chased leader clear of remainder, closed 5f out, led 2 1/2f out, soon clear, stayed on well final furlong
dwelt, towards rear, pushed along from 5f out, no impression 3f out, soon no danger
soon raced in moderate 5th, improved to chase winner from 2f out but no impression, moderate 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong and dropped to 3rd near finish
pushed along early to soon lead, clear of remainder with 2nd, pushed along over 3f out, headed 2 1/2f out, no extra and eased from 2f out
soon raced in moderate 6th, pushed along 3f out, no impression and edged right from over 1f out where moderate 3rd, kept on without troubling winner into 2nd near finish
took keen hold in moderate 4th, pushed along 3f out, soon no impression, squeezed for room over 1f out where dropped to moderate 6th, one pace
soon raced in moderate 8th, no impression from 2 1/2f out, moderate 7th 1f out, one pace
soon raced in moderate 7th, no impression from 2 1/2f out, moderate 5th 1f out, kept on same pace
soon raced in moderate 3rd, pushed along 2 1/2f out, chased winner from 2f out and no impression, edged slightly left over 1f out where dropped to moderate 4th, one pace
towards rear, pushed along 3f out, no impression when drifted right over 2f out, moderate 8th 1f out, one pace
Royal Diamond won this in 2012 but was only fifth last year and has seen the back of LEADING LIGHT in his last three starts. Aidan O'Brien's Gold Cup winner has won eight of his ten starts to date, his only defeats coming on his debut and in last year's Arc. He'll be at short odds here and though facing his stiffest test for a while should come up trumps once again. Encke upset all Ballydoyle's hopes when gaining a shock victory over Camelot in the 2012 St Leger at Doncaster but was then stood down after testing positive for a banned substance. He didn't reappear until last month when showing he retains his ability with a fine run behind Pether's Moon at Goodwood and it would be no massive shock if he caused another upset here. Pale Mimosa was over 3l behind Leading Light at Navan in May with Royal Diamond splitting the pair but she's definitely improved since than as she showed when beating Estimate in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup at York. Brown Panther was 5l behind in the Gold Cup but can usually be relied on to run his race though the going could be just a bit quick for him over this trip.
Achtung 25-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd 5f out, no extra 4f out, weakened, 10th of 12, 44l behind Magnetic Force (9-7) at Wexford 2m hcp 47-65 gd in Aug.
Brown Panther 11-4 (9-8) Slowly into stride, took keen hold tracking leaders, challenged 3f out, 2nd approaching final 2f, ridden and every chance 2f out, no impression on winner when lost 2nd over 1f out, plugged on and well clear of 4th, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Cavalryman (9-8) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.
Certerach (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 10l behind Pale Mimosa (9-0) at York 2m Grp 2 (1) gd in Aug.
Encke (USA) 6-1 (9-1) Led 1f, mostly tracked leader, challenged travelling well 3f out, soon led narrowly, shaken up and headed over 1f out, chased winner and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Pether's Moon (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Eye of The Storm (IRE) 3-1fav (8-9) Bobbled brk,ridden 3/8, 5th of 11, 10l behind The Pizza Man (8-11) at Arlington(USA) 1m 5f Listed stks (1) fm in Aug.
Leading Light (IRE) 2-5fav (10-0) Raced in 3rd, pushed along 2f out, led over 1f out, soon briefly edged right, stayed on well, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug beating Royal Diamond (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Pallasator 9-2fav (9-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Mutual Regard (9-4) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Royal Diamond (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Soon in rear, closed into straight, 4th from under 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 2nd on line, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Leading Light (10-0) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Willing Foe (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, strongly pressed and stayed on inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Seismos (9-4) at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug.
Pale Mimosa (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, travelled strongly over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on well, won at York 2m Grp 2 (1) gd in Aug beating Estimate (9-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Shu Lewis (IRE) 33-1 (9-6) Soon led, pushed along into straight, pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, dropped to 3rd on line, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Leading Light (10-0) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
