held up, pushed along 8f out, never a factor, tailed off
took keen hold, led 1f, stayed prominent, went 2nd 5f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, 4th and losing place when fell well inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along 8f out, soon outpaced
tracked leaders, chased leader 9f out to 5f out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off final 3f
held up towards rear, steady headway 4f out, challenged going well 2f out, ridden to press winner approaching final furlong, kept on, unable to quicken well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, good headway on outside 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, hard driven and pressed approaching final furlong, stayed on well
mid-division, ridden 3f out, some moderate late headway, left poor 4th well inside final furlong
dwelt, in rear, ridden and beaten 8f out, tailed off
led after 1f, set good pace, ridden and headed over 2f out, outpaced from well over 1f out
in touch, steady headway into 4th over 4f out, hard ridden 3f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders to halfway, soon behind, tailed off final furlong
dwelt, held up and behind, headway on outside 4f out, soon ridden and outpaced final 3f, tailed off
Despite the going change, Michael Kinane looks set to stick with the favourite Hawk Wing ahead of second favourite High Chaparral in a bid to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a second-successive Derby win. The easier going will suit the latter, last year's Racing Post Trophy winner, who also has no stamina doubts. The speed that Hawk Wing showed when he narrowly failed to win the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas suggests he could be high class; but will he stay? His sire's progeny stay, on average, around nine furlongs, although his dam won over 12 furlongs. He should stay 10 furlongs, but 12 on easy ground? It's a question mark but he is, undoubtedly, a highly promising colt. Of Mark Johnston's pair (each supplemented at huge cost), Kevin Darley - a fine judge - has opted for the Chester Vase winner, Fight Your Corner. A good-actioned colt, he should handle the track and has already won on good to soft. Johnston's other runner, Bandari, was impressive in the Lingfield Derby Trial so, again, the track's contours should hold no fears. Moon Ballad won well in the Dante Stakes but connections have expressed doubts about him truly staying 12 furlongs. Frankie Dettori opts instead for Godolphin's other runner, Naheef. The irrepressible Italian rates the colt as the best chance he has had of landing the Vodafone Derby. He is reported to be well but he is not guaranteed to stay on breeding and has only raced on good to firm. The dark horse of the race is the very likeable Tholjanah. He is bred to be ideally suited by 12 furlongs, and whatever he did as a two-year-old - where he displayed useful form - was always going to be a bonus. The suggested shortlist is Hawk Wing, High Chaparral and Fight Your Corner, with Tholjanah the best of the outsiders.
