raced slighlty away from main field, led 1f, remained with leader, hung right from halfway, ridden over 1f out, weakened and heavily eased final furlong
held up in rear, good headway from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, pushed out readily
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, soon struggling
led after 1f, ridden 2f out, headed inside and no extra final furlong
slowly into stride in rear, ridden halfway, kept on, never on terms
towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on to take 3rd close home
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
War Artist sets the standard but could be worth taking on with either HIGH STANDING or Palace Moon. James Eustace's charge should be ready to roll as he was due to line-up a few weeks back only for the weather to intervene. He's yet to win a race since arriving from South Africa but has been placed in two Group 1s and will be hard to beat if running to that level. There must be some doubt as to whether he'll be able to reach those heights on his reappearance though and there are a couple of progressive performers in opposition alongside the established campaigners. The likes of last year's winner Intrepid Jack, Edge Closer or Prime Defender could pop up in a race that has had its share of surprises in recent years but we'll concentrate on the form horses. It's stretching the point a little to put Palace Moon in that group but his victory at Doncaster back in March marked this half-brother to Sakhee's Secret down as a horse to follow. His defeat behind Judd Street was deemed disappointing due to the weight of expectation that he carried but it wasn't a bad run and was just the fifth of his career. He needs to improve again at this level but remains one to be interested in. High Standing clearly has his quirks as he demonstrated on the way down to the start in the Wokingham but he's shown smart, progressive form once the races have got underway. Time and again it has been proved that there isn't a great deal between the top handicap sprinters and the Group horses and we fancy High Standing to take another step up the ladder.
Edge Closer 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind J J The Jet Plane (9-7) at Windsor 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
High Standing (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Raced far side, held up, headway well over 1f out, chased group leader and overall inside final furlong, ran on to lead final 75 yards, won at Royal Ascot 6f hcp 0-110 (2) gf in Jun beating Asset (9-10) by 3/4l, 26 ran.
Prime Defender 66-1 (9-5) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out, never near leaders, 9th of 13, 6l behind Fleeting Spirit (9-2) at Newmarket 6f (1) gf.
Shallal 14-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, kept on from over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Knot In Wood (9-3) at Newcastle 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Jun.
War Artist (AUS) 11-2 (9-5) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed final 50 yards, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Marchand D'or (9-5) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul '08.
Festoso (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Mid-division, 6th 3f out, 7th 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Glowing (9-6) at Fairyhouse 7f fll stk Grp 3 gd.
Doncaster Rover (USA) 11-4 (8-5) Chased leaders, edged slightly left 2f out, quickened to lead entering final furlong, cosily, won at Haydock 6f cond Stakes (2) gf beating Taqdeyr (8-11) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Madame Trop Vite (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, driven over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Ialysos (9-3) at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Icelandic 10-1 (9-4) Held up, brief effort 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 6, 7l behind J J The Jet Plane (9-7) at Windsor 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Intrepid Jack 125-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 8l behind Fleeting Spirit (9-2) at Newmarket 6f (1) gf.
Judd Street 28-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, behind, pushed along halfway, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Ialysos (9-3) at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Matsunosuke 8-1 (9-12) Always behind, 7th of 9, 8l behind Sonny Red (9-4) at Ascot 5f hcp 105 (2) gf.
Palace Moon 1-2fav (9-4) Took keen hold early, tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed throughout final furlong, lost on the nod, 2nd of 6, ns behind Judd Street (9-4) at Salisbury 6f Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Spin Cycle (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Behind, soon pushed along, effort behind leaders 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out, 12th of 15, 9l behind Scenic Blast (9-4) at Royal Ascot 5f (1) gf in Jun.
