steadied start, held up and always in rear, never a factor
tracked leader 2f, handy 3rd, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in last pair, headway on outside edging left over 1f out, never going pace to reach leaders
tracked leaders on outside, closer on outside in 3rd 2f out, ridden and closed over 1f out, led final 110 yards, ran on strongly (course record time)
led and set strong pace, went clear halfway, reduced lead and ridden over 1f out, headed final 110 yards, no extra
raced keenly, chased leading pair, went 2nd 5f out, pushed along over 2f out, closed over 1f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, not pace of winner
Daarik was a disappointment when a well-backed favourite for the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Ascot and has now run poorly twice on Turf. Shine So Bright won a Group 2 at York last season but efforts since have left a bit to be desired. Vale Of Kent makes more appeal as he is better than he showed in last month Criterion at Newmarket and holds Oh This Is Us on an earlier run at HQ. SAFE VOYAGE (NAP) is generally thought best on soft ground but he went close in a Curragh Group 2 on quicker going last season. Only beaten a neck at Haydock on his return to action, he deserves to get his head back in front.
Daarik (IRE) 7-2fav (9-9) In touch stand side, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 19th of 23, 16 1/4l behind Motakhayyel (9-3) at Ascot 7f hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Jack's Point 10-1 (9-0) Raced towards far side, chased leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 10th of 22, 3 1/4l behind Hey Jonesy (9-3) at Ascot 6f hcp stks (2) gd in Jun.
Oh This Is Us (IRE) 28-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, switched left and headway on outside over 1f out, kept on towards finish, not pace to challenge, 5th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Marie's Diamond (9-7) at Newmarket 1m lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Safe Voyage (IRE) 10-3 (9-8) Prominent, challenged 2f out, led over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 10, nk behind Space Blues (9-8) at Haydock 7f lst stks (1) gs in Jun.
Shine So Bright 16-1 (9-3) Wore hood to post, chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 2f out, last of 10, 14 1/4l behind Hello Youmzain (9-3) at Ascot 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Vale Of Kent (IRE) 5-2fav (9-5) Dwelt soon pushed along to chase clear leader, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, looked held when short of room over 1f out, eased, 7th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Limato (9-5) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jun.
