led to over 8f out, 3rd and weakening straight, behind final 3f
slowly into stride, towards rear, 13th and ridden straight, soon struggling
held up towards rear, 15th straight, headway on outside and hung left over 1f out, stayed on but never going pace to reach leaders
chased leaders, 4th and ridden straight, driven 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leader over 7f out, challenged from 3f out, upsides and every chance final furlong, stayed on well, not pace of winner final 50 yards
in touch, led over 8f out, hard driven and kept on final 2f, headed final 50 yards, lost 2nd last strides
in touch, 5th straight, headway to chase leading pair over 2f out, driven and every chance when veered right last 100 yards, stayed on
mid-division on outer, 7th straight, broke leg 2f out and pulled up
mid-division, 9th straight, driven and weakened over 2f out
behind, 16th straight, stayed on final 2f, never going pace to reach leader
slowly away, soon ridden along in rear, headway into mid-division on outside halfway, 17th and losing touch straight
held up in rear, 17th on inside straight, good headway on rails when struck by rival whips and badly hampered 2f out, not recover
in rear, last straight, ridden on outside 3f out, soon beaten
in touch on inside, 8th straight, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, 11th straight, steady headway from over 2f out, switched left to inside rail over 1f out, got through on inside to chase leaders final furlong, stayed on gamely to lead final 50 yards
held up towards rear, 14th straight, headway and staying on one pace when hung left from over 1f out
prominent, 3rd straight, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, 10th straight, effort and hung left from 2f out, continued to hang left and weakend final furlong
With Visindar likely to start at prohibitive odds, we shall instead look to Atlantic Waves to go close at a big price, with Papal Bull, Septimus, Horatio Nelson, Sir Percy and Championship Point all worth considering in this year's renewal. Anybody holding a big-priced ante-vouch slip on Visindar is now sitting pretty, but he is certainly no good thing when you consider that the last French-trained winner was Empery 30 years ago. In addition, the son of Sinndar has only had three career outings, and that may just count against him round here, with Cristophe Soumillon lacking experience on this unique course. With that in mind, we shall look elsewhere for some value, and hope that it rests with Atlantic Waves. Mark Johnston's colt looked a progressive sort when winning the Fielden Stakes at Newmarket, a race in which subsequent Derby winners Slip Anchor and Erhaab lined up, and he handled the track in a private gallop recently. Guaranteed to stay, he can make the frame at least. Papal Bull has been supplemented by Coolmore to add to their options, and at a cost of 75,000 that is a bit of a gamble, although a drop in the ocean considering what he will be worth if adding to his Chester Vase success, the very same race that Sir Michael Stoute used as a stepping stone for Shergar in 1981.Kieren Fallon has decided to partner Horatio Nelson, who along with Sir Percy, bids to give a boost to the 2,000 Guineas form, but the stamina of both will have to be taken on trust. Dylan Thomas won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his reappearance, so bids to emulate the likes of Galileo and High Chaparral. He has to be respected along with Septimus who of course will try and make it the third year in a row that the Dante has produced the Epsom winner. Mick Channon has been bullish about the chances of Championship Point, but the last time the Predominate Stakes winner followed up was the great Troy in 1979. Andre Fabre's second string Linda's Lad bids to break Frankie Dettori's hoodoo, but on the bare evidence the Italian will have to wait another 12 months at least, while those fancying Hala Bek should consider that the last winner not to have raced at least once as a juvenile was Commander-In-Chief in 1993. So, while respecting the claims of Visindar greatly, at the odds on offer now, we shall go out on a limb and plump for Atlantic Waves each-way.
Atlantic Waves (IRE) 3-1co-fav (8-13) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied to lead near finish, won at Newmarket 1m 1f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Apr beating Olympian Odyssey (8-13) by a shd, 8 ran.
Before You Go (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 5, 5l behind Linda's Lad (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Best Alibi (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) In touch, led over 6f out, ridden and headed 2f out, one pace final furlong, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Septimus (9-0) at York 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Championship Point (IRE) 4-5fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, gong well just inside final 3f, led over 2f out, in command over 1f out, kept on strongly, eased near finish, won at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May beating Sienna Storm (9-0) by 4l, 5 ran.
Dragon Dancer (FR) 7-2 (8-12) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, led 1f out, headed and not quicken well inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Papal Bull (8-12) at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Dylan Thomas (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Close 2nd, disputed lead halfway, led entering straight, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) gs in May beating Mountain (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Hala Bek (IRE) 6-5fav (9-3) Keen hold, tracked leaders, led going well inside final 2f, quickened clear final furlong, pushed out, won at Newbury 1m 3f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr beating Dragon Dancer (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Horatio Nelson (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 8th of 14, 7l behind George Washington (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Linda's Lad 15-8fav (9-3) Held up, smooth headway to chase leading pair over 2f out, driven and stayed on final furlong to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in May beating Hazeymm (8-10) by a hd, 5 ran.
Mountain (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Chased leaders in 4th, 5th and ridden 3f out, headway under 2f out, 2nd and kept on final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Dylan Thomas (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) gs in May.
Noddies Way Nomadic Way colt out of winning miler Sharway Lady.
Papal Bull 6-4fav (8-12) Dwelt, in touch, ran in snatches from 8f out, ridden over 2f out, driven to lead and hung left well inside final furlong, won at Chester 1m 4f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in May beating Dragon Dancer (8-12) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Septimus (IRE) 13-8fav (9-0) Held up, pushed along and headway over 3f out, led 2f out, was clear over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at York 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) sft in May beating Best Alibi (9-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Sienna Storm (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Keen hold, settled in rear halfway, pushed along 3f out, hung right but stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Championship Point (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gd in May.
Sir Percy 4-1 (9-0) Keen, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, driven, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind George Washington (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Sixties Icon 6-4fav (9-3) Tracked leader, hung left over 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, held on well, won at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) sft in May beating Fleeting Memory (8-12) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Snoqualmie Boy 16-1 (9-0) Towards rear, driven over 4f out, headway over 2f out, never reached challenging position, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Septimus (9-0) at York 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) sft in May.
Visindar (9-2) Settled midfield, ran on from 2f out to challenge over 1f out, soon led, quickened clear, easily, won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 2 (A) gd in May beating Onerous (9-2) by 4l, 6 ran.
