led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, soon eased
held up, progress to track leaders 7f out, led and hung right over 1f out, ridden and ran on
tracked leaders, lost place over 4f out
always in rear
tracked leader 2f, tracked leaders, ridden and chance over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out
tracked leader after 2f, led over 3f out, ridden, headed, hampered and pushed right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
in rear, ridden 4f out, headway over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out
raced keenly, held up, headway 3f out, close 3rd when hampered and pushed right over 1f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
SANS FRONTIERES is preferred to last-year's winner Kite Wood. Jeremy Noseda's colt improved in cheek-pieces at Newmarket last time and the second home Redwood has since gone on to win the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood. This longer trip is a question mark but he shapes like it will suit and there is plenty of stamina in his bloodlines as well. Kite Wood failed to last home in the Ascot Gold Cup, but he won this race as a three-year-old and despite having more weight to carry this year he is respected, along with Dangerous Midge after his Haydock demolition although next weeks Ebor might be a more realistic assignment. Former Ballydoyle inmate Golden Sword has plenty to prove, and the selection may have more to fear from proven Listed performer Laaheb and Saptapadi who was too bad to be true at the Curragh in June.
Kite Wood (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Held up in 7th, pushed along 6f out, 7th and struggling 3f out, 7th of 12, 41l behind Rite Of Passage (9-2) at Royal Ascot 2m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Sans Frontieres (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Keen in rear, good headway over 1f out, led 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul beating Redwood (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Aaim To Prosper (IRE) 5-2fav (9-3) Ran in snatches until travelled better from halfway, held up in 7th, driven and headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd just over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never quite going pace to reach winner, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Colloquial (9-5) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Jul.
Blizzard Blues (USA) 4-1 (8-12) Close up on outside, pushed along 4f out, pressed winner 3f out until over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 9, 15l behind Claremont (8-12) at Newbury 1m 5f Listed stks (1) gf in May.
Golden Sword 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, weakened soon after, last of 8, 12l behind Redwood (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Laaheb 5-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf in Jun beating Whispering Gallery (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Pompeyano (IRE) 10-11fav (9-0) Close up, ridden to lead 1f out, idled near finish, won at Epsom Downs 1m 2f cond Stakes (3) gd in Jul beating Chock A Block (9-0) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Saptapadi (IRE) 5-2 (9-11) Raced in moderate 4th, pushed along approaching straight, soon dropped to last and virtually pulled up, last of 5, well behind Tactic (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jun.
Dangerous Midge (USA) 17-2 (8-10) Soon tracking leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in Jul beating Demolition (8-6) by 8l, 14 ran.
