prominent, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, held on well towards finish
held up mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up behind, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased clear leader, led over 4f out, headed 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
held up behind, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to take 4th place towards finish
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out to chase leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, chased winner towards finish, always held
pushed along to lead and soon clear, headed over 4f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway over 3f out to chase leaders, ridden inside final furlong, weakened towards finish
Capri’s win in the Irish Derby has been franked and he looks the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s quartet, who are bidding to give Ballydoyle a fifth victory in the world’s oldest classic, ahead of Venice Beach. Stamina will be no problem for Stradivarius as he won the Queen’s Vase at Ascot and followed up against top-class stayers over 2m in the Goodwood Cup, though would probably have preferred a faster surface. Crystal Ocean was placed in the Dante and the King Edward VII Stakes before easily winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. That’s a recognised trial for this but the ground has come right for DEFOE, who can give Andrea Atzeni a third win in the last four years. Unbeaten this year, Roger Varian’s grey may have started off in handicaps but the form of his Hamilton win in July could not have worked out any better and he was just as impressive against older horses in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury last time. Newmarket winner Raheen House, not far behind Crystal Ocean at Ascot, could appeal for those seeking each-way value.
Capri (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden and led 2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, stayed on well under pressure final furlong, all out, won at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul beating Cracksman (9-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Count Octave 2-1fav (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Call To Mind (9-2) at Goodwood 1m 6f lst stks (1) gd in Aug.
Crystal Ocean 6-4fav (9-1) Tracked leading pair, challenged on inside 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug beating Khalidi (9-1) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Defoe (IRE) 13-8fav (8-10) Held up in last pair, smooth headway over 2f out, led narrowly inside final 2f, edged right towards stands side rail inside final furlong, ridden and held on final 100 yards, won at Newbury 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug beating Wall of Fire (9-5) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Douglas Macarthur (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Held up in last pair, pushed along 4f out, closed 3f out, 4th and stayed on same pace final 2f, no impression, 4th of 6, 12 1/2l behind Cracksman (9-0) at York 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Raheen House (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Held up in touch, stayed near side 8f out, headway over 3f out, went 2nd just inside final 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Jul beating Desert Skyline (9-1) by 1l, 9 ran.
Rekindling 13-2 (9-3) Held up in 5th, headway 3f out, ridden to chase winner 1f out, soon no impression, one pace, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Order Of St George (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Aug.
Stradivarius (IRE) 6-1 (8-8) Took keen hold early, mid-division until settled towards rear 12f out, good headway over 4f out, went 2nd over 2f out, soon challenging, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on on strongly, won at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Big Orange (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 14 ran.
The Anvil (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Led, clear halfway, ridden and strongly pressed 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened, 8th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Capri (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Venice Beach (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd 3f out, ridden and stayed on from 2f out, no impression on winner but clear of rest, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Cracksman (9-0) at York 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Aug.
Coronet 16-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Enable (8-12) at York 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gs in Aug.
