in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, eased final furlong
dwelt and slow into stride, in rear, pushed along 3f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, effort to chase winner over 1f out, soon switched right, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, kept on
keen tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
in touch, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders
tracked leaders, led 2f out, clear entering final furlong, ran on
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
Aidan O'Brien won the Derby trial at Chester during the week and landed this race last year with Nevis. He has a strong hand today with Mekong River just preferred to maiden winner Blue Hussar. The former lost his unbeaten record in a Group 1 in France in November and is penalised for an earlier Listed win at Leopardstown. SUDDEN WONDER returned to action with victory in a valuable sales race over 1m2f at Headquarters last month and Charlie Appleby's colt looks capable of even better over this longer trip. He may have the edge on Newbury runner-up Snow Sky, who finished ahead of Red Galileo, and also the Newmarket maiden winner Munjaz. Hartnell is pretty exposed and it could be significant that Joe Fanning prefers stablemate Double Bluff, who is closely matched with Snow Sky on Newbury running. Signposted ran well for fourth in the Epsom Derby Trial and may also get involved in a wide-open contest.
Mekong River (IRE) (8-13) 4th of 12, 12l behind Prince Gibraltar (8-13) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 2f 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft in Nov.
Blue Hussar (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Rear of mid-division and 12th entering straight, good headway from 2f out and 6th 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Leopardstown 7f mdn stks sft in Nov beating Screenshot (9-5) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Double Bluff (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Keen led, headed over 6f out, chased clear leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Western Hymn (8-13) at Newbury 1m 2f con stks (3) gs in Apr.
Hartnell 6-4fav (9-1) Keen early, tracked leaders, came towards centre over 3f out, ridden to chase winner 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 2l behind Our Channel (8-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f con stks (2) gs in Apr.
Munjaz 11-8fav (9-5) Raced centre in touch, headway to press leaders 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon hung left, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gd in Apr beating Venezia (9-5) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Red Galileo 7-1 (9-1) Prominent, led after 2f, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 5l behind Western Hymn (9-1) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) sft in Apr.
Signposted (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Close up, came towards centre over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 1l behind Our Channel (8-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f con stks (2) gs in Apr.
Snow Sky 7-1 (8-13) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Western Hymn (8-13) at Newbury 1m 2f con stks (3) gs in Apr.
Sudden Wonder (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) In touch, headway to lead over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, gamely, won at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gd in Apr beating Observational (9-5) by hd, 14 ran.
