held up, headway 2f out, weakening when short of room inside final furlong
in touch, headway and switched right over 1f out, ridden and no impression inside final furlong
dwelt, tracked leaders after 1f, switched right 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, stayed on to lead post
towards rear, headway over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed post
in touch, slightly outpaced 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, nearest finish
led after 1f, set steady pace, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
led 1f, tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
John Gosden bids to land this for the third time in succession and runs two. CRACKSMAN makes most appeal as the Frankel colt won his only start last year over a mile at Newmarket and is entered in the Derby, unlike stablemate Tartini. The latter and Youmkin won their respective divisions of the same maiden race at Nottingham in October and Saeed Bin Suroor’s colt is preferred to the other Godolphin runner Bay Of Poets. The latter was well beaten in pattern races last season and shares the same rating as Permian, who came up just short in a handicap at Bath on his return. The remainder all have plenty to find though Ahlan Bil Zain beat a subsequent winner when landing a maiden at Newcastle.
Ahlan Bil Zain (FR) 11-8fav (9-5) Took keen hold, tracking leader, driven to challenge over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, hard ridden, all out (hand-timed), won at Newcastle 1m mdn stks (6) pol in Oct beating Mister Manduro (9-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Bay Of Poets (IRE) (8-13) 8th of 9, 31 1/2l behind Thunder Snow (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 7f Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Cracksman 9-2 (9-5) Held up, headway 3f out, led approaching 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, ran on close home, won at Newmarket 1m mdn stks (4) gs in Oct beating Wild Tempest (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Never Surrender (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, lost a bit of ground over 3f out, hanging left and closed over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, pressing winner inside final furlong, held inside final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Dubawi Prince (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gs in Apr.
Permian (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, edged left and not quicken over 1f out, switched right and rallied entering final furlong, hanging left and ducking in behind rival but soon straightened up and ran on well, just held, 3rd of 7, nk behind Hushood (8-7) at Bath 1m 4f hcp (2) fm in Apr.
Tartini (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Green towards rear, headway on inside well over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, switched right to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, driven out, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) gd in Oct beating Dhajeej (9-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Youmkin (USA) 3-1fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, chased leaders, smooth progress to lead over 1f out, pushed clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) gd in Oct beating Face The Facts (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Zoffany Bay (IRE) 50-1 (9-5) Raced keenly, chased leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened into 4th close home, 4th of 16, 5 3/4l behind Valcartier (9-5) at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (5) gf in Apr.
