led, ridden turning in, headed over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd inside final 2f, chased leaders in 3rd, weakened inside final furlong
well placed in mid-division, smooth headway out wide 3f out, led going strongly over 2f out, ridden and came easily clear over 1f out, impressive
rear-division, some late moderate headway, never on terms
wore hood to post, always rear-division
slowly away, outpaced in rear and never on terms
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway and switched out inside final 3f, soon chasing leaders, switched back left to inside over 2f out, soon hung left on camber, went 2nd inside final 2f, no chance with impressive winner, just held on for 2nd
held up towards rear, headway out wide over 1f out, went moderate 4th final 110 yards
in mid-division when hampered and lost position 9f out, towards rear, some headway out wide over 2f out, run flattened out and weakened final furlong
held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened approaching final 2f
held up in mid-division on inside, closer and pushed along in 6th early straight, soon pushed along and lost place, behind over 2f out
wore hood to post, off the pace and always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
wore hood to post, sweating, raced in close 3rd, pushed along 3f out, edged left 2f out, soon ridden and lost 3rd, weakened over 1f out
wore hood to post, always towards rear, never a factor, lost touch final 3f, tailed off and eased
wore hood to post, held up in mid-division, headway between horses hanging left from 3f out, held in pocket 2f out, switched right soon after, hung left on camber over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, closed on 2nd but never any chance with impressive winner
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, lost 2nd soon after, chased leaders, weakened final furlong
Desert Crown strengthened his position at the head of the betting with an impressive defeat of Royal Patronage in the Dante at York and is the one to beat. Charlie Appleby's yard won this last year and run three with Buick preferring Nations Pride, a supplemented entry after beating Hoo Ya Mal by a wide margin at Newmarket. Stablemate Walk Of Stars finished runner-up in the Lingfield Derby Trial while Nahanni won the Blue Riband over 1m2f here with Grand Alliance in close attendance. Ballydoyle also send three with Ryan Moore opting for Leopardstown trial winner Stone Age, who beat Glory Daze a long way, while stable companions Star Of India and Changingoftheguard both won at Chester’s May meeting. PIZ BADILE is another Irish raider and he returned to action with a plucky success in the Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown. He looks sure to improve for this extra distance and Frankie Dettori’s presence is another positive. Westover landed the Classic Trial at Sandown while West Wind Blows is a dual novice winner out of a winner of the French Oaks.
Changingoftheguard (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Made all, set strong pace and soon clear, given breather over 4f out, pushed clear again over 2f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Chester 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) sft in May beating New London (9-2) by 6 1/2l, 4 ran.
Desert Crown 7-2jfav (9-2) Held up towards rear, wide and good headway 3f out, led 2f out, raced green inside final furlong, ran on, impressive, won at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May beating Royal Patronage (9-2) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
El Habeeb (IRE) 125-1 (9-5) Dwelt raced wide close up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 8l behind Ottoman Fleet (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Glory Daze (IRE) 18-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders disputing 3rd, ridden in 4th 3f out, moderate 3rd 1 1/2f out, disputing 2nd and no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 5 1/2l behind Stone Age (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Grand Alliance (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Pushed along to be in touch after 2f, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Nahanni (9-1) at Epsom 1m 2f lst (1) gd in Apr.
Hoo Ya Mal 7-2 (9-0) Keen, close up in 4th, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to chase clear impressive winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Nations Pride (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Masekela (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Keen close up, headway 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Eydon (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
Nahanni 9-4fav (9-1) Dwelt, headway to lead over 8f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on gamely, won at Epsom 1m 2f lst (1) gd in Apr beating Grand Alliance (9-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Nations Pride (IRE) 7-4 (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along to lead over 2f out, forged clear final furlong, impressive, won at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in Apr beating Hoo Ya Mal (9-0) by 7l, 4 ran.
Piz Badile (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Close up, mid-division after 2f, progress to 3rd under 3f out, closed on inner under 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed over 1f out, headed under 1f out, rallied to lead final strides, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr beating Buckaroo (9-5) by shd, 9 ran.
Royal Patronage (FR) 7-2jfav (9-2) In touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Desert Crown (9-2) at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in May.
Sonny Liston (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) In touch in rear, hampered over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Star Of India (9-2) at Chester 1m 2f lst stks (1) gs in May.
Star Of India (IRE) 6-4fav (9-2) Pushed along to lead 1f, soon tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Chester 1m 2f lst stks (1) gs in May beating Cresta (9-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Stone Age (IRE) 10-11fav (9-5) Made all, travelling well entering straight, pushed along and went well clear 1 1/2f out, ridden and stayed on strongly final furlong, impressive, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Glory Daze (9-5) by 5 1/2l, 7 ran.
Walk Of Stars 11-10fav (9-2) Slow into stride, keen after 2f when disputed 3rd, came centre 3f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong when hung right then left and flashed tail, no extra when swerved right close home, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind United Nations (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Westover 5-1 (9-1) Close 3rd on inside, went 2nd inside final 2f, challenged and edged left inside final furlong, led final 110 yards, all out, won at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Cash (9-1) by shd, 6 ran.
West Wind Blows (IRE) 17-2 (9-11) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Nottingham 1m 2f stks (5) gd in May beating Return To Dubai (9-4) by 5l, 11 ran.
