Nothing much has gone right for TOO DARN HOT this year though placed efforts in three Group 1 races is not too shabby. This is the weakest race he’s contested so far this season and with the drop back to 7f likely to suit, John Gosden’s charge gets the vote with stablemate Azano ensuring a decent pace. German 2000 Guineas winner Fox Champion is preferred to stablemate Watan though the Hannon colt finished behind the selection at Ascot last time as did Godolphin’s Royal Marine. But Space Blues was narrowly beaten in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot and is preferred to a third Godolphin runner in Andre Fabre’s Munitions, who just got the better of Graignes in a Group 3 back in April. Pure Zen went close in Group 2 company at Chantilly last time and Namos landed a Group 3 event over 6f at Baden Baden last month.
Watan 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 5, nk behind Jash (9-0) at Newmarket 7f lst stks (1) gd in May.
Graignes (FR) 10th of 15, shd behind Gloria Du Gers at Caen 1m 3f pol in Jun.
Pretty Boy (IRE) (8-10) 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Eagleway (8-10) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f lst stks gd in Jun.
Royal Marine (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Circus Maximus (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Space Blues (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) Held up towards rear, headway looking for room over 2f out, not clear run and switched left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 18, hd behind Space Traveller (9-1) at Ascot 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Munitions (USA) (9-2) 9th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Persian King (9-2) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 stks gs in May.
Urwald (8-7) 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Hey Gaman (9-4) at Longchamp 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Fox Champion (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Circus Maximus (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Too Darn Hot 2-1fav (9-0) Close up, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong when hung left, no extra close home, 3rd of 11, 1l behind Circus Maximus (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Azano (8-11) won at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Jun beating Pizzicato (8-11) by 1l, 7 ran.
Namos (GER) (8-11) won at Baden-Baden 6f gd in Jun beating The Right Man (9-6) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Pure Zen (FR) (8-11) 2nd of 7, hd behind Obligate (8-11) at Chantilly 1m Grp 2 fll gd in Jun.
