tracked leaders on far rail, switched left and went 2nd 2f out until inside final furlong, one pace and no impression in 3rd
led on far rail, quickened 2f out, shaken up over 1f out, edged left and ridden inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
held up in 5th on far rail, headway chasing leaders 2f out, went 2nd and squeezed through on rail inside final furlong, stayed on to lead close home
tracked leaders, pushed along and unable to quicken 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
wore hood to post, slowly into stride, held up in last pair, never on terms
held up in rear, some late minor headway, never on terms
raced keenly, tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, lost 2nd 2f out, weakened final furlong
None are ruled out in a typically-open renewal. Ontario bids to emulate stablemate Whitecliffsofdover by defying top weight but Naval Crown, highly tried last year and a Listed winner at Meydan in February, would be a first-ever winner for Godolphin. Percy’s Lad went down with all guns blazing in the Horris Hill in October having won twice in minor company earlier. Further improvement this season is likely and he shares bottom weight with another unexposed type in Legal Attack. ROYAL SCIMITAR was quite highly tried after landing a Newbury maiden on debut, which has worked out well, so he gets a tentative vote with Tactical and Dark Lion looking up against it.
Ontario (IRE) 6-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, took keen hold, 3rd on outer at halfway, ridden in 2nd 2f out, soon no impression on winner, moderate 3rd over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Poetic Flare (9-5) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Naval Crown (8-9) won at Meydan 1m lst stks gd in Feb beating Master Of The Seas (8-9) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Tactical 40-1 (9-1) Always in rear, 11th of 14, 13 1/4l behind St Mark's Basilica (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Royal Scimitar (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 3 1/4l behind New Mandate (9-0) at Doncaster 7f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Dark Lion (IRE) (9-2) 5th of 8, 9l behind Erasmo (9-2) at Chantilly 7f lst stks hvy in Oct.
Legal Attack 15-8fav (9-1) Hampered start, prominent, went 2nd halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Nastase (9-1) at York 6f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Percy's Lad 20-1 (9-0) Led in centre, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Mujbar (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Oct.
