held up in rear, going for run on inside when no room from over 1f out until squeezed through inside final furlong, eased, never able to recover
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, weaved through inside final furlong, stayed on into 3rd last strides, not pace of leading pair
took keen hold, tracked leader 3f, handy 3rd, hung right on bend 2f out, 2nd again over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed inside final 150 yards, lost 2 places near finish
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 7f out, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
dwelt, held up in last pair, good headway on outside over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish and closing when hampered by winner soon after, not recover (awarded race)
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, good headway on outside over 1f out, strong run under pressure to lead inside final 150 yards, hung badly right and hampered 2nd towards finish, held on (placed 2nd)
tracked leaders on outside, unable to quicken and hung left from over 1f out, weakened towards finish
led, went for home over 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, chased leaders, weakened towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, weakening when hampered inside final furlong, eased
Convey made a winning reappearance to land this prize last year while Sir Michael Stoute also sends the Group 3 winner Autocratic, who ended last season with a couple of below par efforts in August. Neither are easily dismissed but Clear Skies has no easy task despite winning five times at Dundalk for Aidan O’Brien in recent weeks. Utmost is preferred having beaten both Battle Of Marathon and Petite Jack in the Listed trial race here three weeks ago for John Gosden but the latter’s former inmate KHALIDI (NAP) makes most appeal. A dual Listed winner last year, Clive Cox will likely have his new charge ready to roll for this and he has every chance on today’s terms. The remainder are harder to fancy though Master The World won the Listed Churchill Stakes here in November and may prove best of them.
Autocratic 6-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, effort 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 10l behind Fabricate (9-1) at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Battle Of Marathon (USA) 66-1 (9-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders on inside over 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, just failed for 2nd near finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Utmost (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Convey (9-0) 6th of 7, 9l behind Contentment (9-0) at Sha Tin 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Gabrial (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Blindfold off late and slowly away, always last, behind until closed over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, last of 3, 5 3/4l behind Arcanada (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (2) pol in Feb.
Khalidi 9-4 (9-1) Tracked leading trio, quick move on outside to lead narrowly 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace and no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Crystal Ocean (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Aug.
Master The World (IRE) 9-4fav (9-6) Raced wide soon close up, effort to press leaders 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Petite Jack (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Dec.
Mr Owen (USA) 13-8 (9-6) Tracked winner, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, not quite able to challenge, 2nd of 3, 3/4l behind Arcanada (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (2) pol in Feb.
Petite Jack 9-2 (9-3) Led early, tracked winner, effort and every chance over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on, held when lost place towards finish, 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Utmost (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Utmost (USA) 5-1 (9-0) Soon led, made rest, ridden and hard pressed over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Feb beating Victory Bond (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Clear Skies 11-8fav (9-8) Settled behind leaders in 4th, travelled well entering straight, switched left and progress 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, easily, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Jan beating Sharjah (8-4) by 5 1/2l, 8 ran.
