switched right start, held up well in rear, not clear run on inner just inside final 2f, soon switched left ,stayed on inside final furlong, finished well, never nearer
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, kept on but no real impression from over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, good run on inside rail over 3f out, tracking leaders and going strongly when switched left 2f out, led over 1f out, driven clear final 1f, kept on strongly
in touch on inside, ridden 2f out, weakening when hampered soon after
chased leading pair, pushed along 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, soon edging left, driven and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced wide, held up towards rear, driven along on outside 2f out, edging right and kept on under pressure from over 1f out, never going pace to get competitive
held up in rear, never in contention
in touch, chased leaders under pressure over 2f out, weakened final 1f
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened approaching 2f out
switched right start, held up well in rear, good headway on inside over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no chance with winner
chased leader to over 2f out, soon weakened
led until ridden and headed 2f out, losing place when hampered on rail, eased final 1f
raced alone on wide outside for 1st furlong, raced in mid-division, driven along over 2f out, soon struggling
chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
pushed along throughout towards rear, driven on outside over 2f out, stayed on under strong pressure from over 1f out, went 2nd final 100 yards, never any chance with winner
mid-division, pushed along 4f out, close up under pressure over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
held up in rear, never a factor
held up in mid-division, making steady headway when not much room and squeezed through approaching 2f out, driven and kept on from over 1f out, never going pace to get competitive
held up towards rear, good headway travelling strongly when not clearest of runs when squeezed through approaching final furlong, switched left inside final furlong, finished strongly
A wide open affair, with a typically massive field, but we'll side with ACROSTIC to get the better of Cloudy Start and Huzzah. Luca Cumani's gelding is lightly raced for a four year old, with this being only his seventh outing. He won nicely in a similar contest at Sandown earlier in the month, with a ride timed to perfection by Christophe Lemaire, who's on board again today. Crackdown and Huzzah were both behind him on that day. The draw's not ideal, but it wasn't for him previously either. Huzzah's not won in nine races since completing back to back wins last May, in races which have subsequently thrown out plenty of winners. He's closer in the weights today to Acrostic, so it may be too tall an order to reverse form. Last year he was fifth in this race. Cloudy Start has also been entered here for tomorrow, but Henry Cecil presumably thinks he's got a better chance in this. Mark Johnston's sending out almost a quarter of the field with five running, including Dubai's Touch, a ready winner last time out and towards the bottom of the weights, but with a three pounds penalty to carry after being third in the corresponding race last year. Lovelace, the highest rated in the contest, sees Jamie Spencer getting a rare ride for the yard, and his booking could be significant. Lovelace though hasn't won since triumphing in a German listed race last autumn. It's wide open, but our preference is for Acrostic.
Lovelace 16-1 (9-10) Raced far side, slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, led that group 1f out, no chance with stands side, 9th of 25, 11l behind Forgotten Voice (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m (2) gf in Jun.
Court Masterpiece 6-1 (9-3) Held up, mid-division, 5th of 9, 5l behind Imbongi (9-3) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun.
Laa Rayb (USA) 14-1 (9-10) Always in rear, pushed along 4f out, no impression, 14th of 19, 9l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Vitznau (IRE) 17-2 (8-13) Held up and always behind, last of 6, 19l behind Gallagher (8-5) at Newbury 7f cond Stakes (3) gf.
Cloudy Start 2-1fav (9-1) Held up in touch, chased leader 3f out, ridden to lead and hung left over 1f out, driven and headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Spring Of Fame (8-12) at Newmarket 1m con stks (2) gd.
Acrostic 7-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, switched left inside final 3f, pushed along and headway on outside over 2f out, pressed leader approaching final furlong, upsides when hung right inside final furlong, driven to lead near finish, won at Sandown 1m hcap (2) gd beating Crackdown (8-8) by hd, 16 ran.
Huzzah (IRE) 17-2 (9-5) Chased leaders on inside, switched left approaching 2f out, driven and unable to quicken over 1f out, no impression on front pair final furlong, soon lost 3rd, 4th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Acrostic (9-0) at Sandown 1m hcap (2) gd.
Extraterrestrial 16-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, driven and effort when edged right over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 7th of 16, 7l behind Acrostic (9-0) at Sandown 1m hcap (2) gd.
Benandonner (USA) 25-1 (9-2) Close up, ridden 3f out, lost place 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, 11th of 19, 8l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Docofthebay (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride in rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, edged left and kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Khateeb (9-1) at Nottingham 1m cond Stakes (2) gf in Jun.
Joseph Henry 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 19, 1 1/4l behind Plum Pudding (9-10) at Newmarket 7f hcap (2) gf.
Jack Junior (USA) 8-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace when no room inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 5l behind More Time Tim (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol.
Crackdown (IRE) 9-1 (8-1) Led early, close up, weakened over 1f out, 12th of 21, 13l behind Al Muheer (8-10) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd.
Tartan Gigha (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Mid-division, pushed along when not clear run briefly over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous, 9th of 17, 7l behind City Of The Kings (9-5) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Spectait 9-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on, never near leaders, 7th of 11, 5l behind Big Noise (9-3) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Horatio Carter 25-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, weakened well over 1f out, last of 21, 29l behind Al Muheer (8-10) at Ascot 7f hcap (2) gd.
Dubai's Touch 12-1 (10-0) Held up, good headway on wide outside 3f out, quicken to lead 2f out, soon edged right, pushed along and in command final furlong, comfortably, won at Ascot 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd beating One Way Or Another (9-13) by 3l, 9 ran.
Kavachi (IRE) 33-1 (8-5) Raced stands side, held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched right, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to get competitive, 8th of 25, 10l behind Forgotten Voice (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m (2) gf in Jun.
Webbow (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, squeezed through inside final 2f, chased winner final 1f, strong challenge near finish, just failed, 2nd of 17, ns behind City Of The Kings (9-5) at York 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Dunn'o (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Raced stands side, led group and overall leader to 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 25, 15l behind Forgotten Voice (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m (2) gf in Jun.
