settled 3rd on rail, travelled well 3f out, pushed along to lead 2f out, strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, ridden f out, kept on best final furlong
held up 4th, pushed along to 3rd 2 1/2f out, ridden and challenged leader 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong, not match winner close home
in rear, 8th 4f out, ridden over 3f out, no impression 2f out, kept on one pace to 7th close home
raced 5th, 6th 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, closer in 5th 2f out, driven 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong to 4th on line, never on terms
tracked leader in 2nd, closer in 2nd 4f out, pushed along to lead under 3f out, strongly pressed and headed 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, lost 4th on line
pushed up to lead early, 5 lengths clear 8f out, niggled along 3 1/2f out, under pressure and headed under 3f out, ridden in 4th 2 1/2f out in 3rd, kept on well final furlong to 3rd, not trouble leaders
rear, 7th 4f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, 6th under 1f out, kept on same pace, never nearer
ran 6th, 5th 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, dropped to 6th 2f out, no extra final furlong
Aidan O'Brien has won this with the likes of Yeats and Fame And Glory so Kingfisher has a lot to live up to. Last year's Dee Stakes winner didn't live up to expectations later but saw the back of stablemate Australia in three Group 1 races so shouldn't be dismissed. FORGOTTEN RULES won a bumper on his debut and was having only his third start when landing the Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot from today's rival Biographer. The ground was heavy that day and he has a penalty to carry so the runner-up can get closer on the revised terms but not enough to turn the tables. The race-fit Answered, a convincing Listed winner at Limerick, faces this trip for the first time but should be suited and is no forlorn hope to gain his first victory at this level.
Forgotten Rules (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Held up in last pair, steady headway on outside 5f out, soon tracking leaders, effort on outside over 2f out, ridden, hung badly right and went 2nd well over 1f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) hvy in Oct beating Biographer (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Answered 9-10fav (9-8) Ran 4th, pushed along 2f out, progress to lead 1f out, stayed on well to draw clear inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Limerick 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Apr beating Waltzing Matilda (9-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Biographer 25-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, switching left when hampered well over 1f out, chased leading pair approaching final furlong, stayed on into 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Forgotten Rules (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) hvy in Oct.
Kingfisher (IRE) 100-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, led approaching straight, headed 2f out and soon no extra, 6th of 7, 17l behind The Grey Gatsby (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sep.
Panama Hat 4-1fav (9-7) Pushed along to soon chase leaders, 7th 5f out, pushed along from 4f out, 5th 3f out, 2nd 1f out, kept on well, not quite match winner, 2nd of 15, nk behind Adjusted (8-8) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Sep.
Sir Ector (USA) 16-1 (9-9) Soon mid-division, pushed along from 4f out, no impression when checked 1 1/2f out, one pace, 17th of 22, 12l behind Clondaw Warrior (8-8) at Leopardstown 1m 7f hcp in Oct.
Dark Crusader (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Dwelt, held up in rear, pushed along and no impression 2f out, eased, last of 6, 31l behind Answered (9-8) at Limerick 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Apr.
Toe The Line (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Settled in rear, 8th 4f out, pushed along in 7th 2 1/2f out, ridden and progress to 4th 1 1/2f out, ran on to 3rd without threatening final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Massinga (9-0) at Cork 1m 4f fll lst stks (1) hvy in Apr.
