led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
close up, headway to join leaders over 1f out, ridden and every chance when edged left inside final furlong, not quicken near finish
keen early, tracked leader, ridden to lead and edged right over 1f out, driven and ran on towards finish
tracked leader after 2f, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon not much room, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
John Gosden has won two of the last four renewals and runs two in this. A runner-up in the Dee Stakes at Chester last time, LINGUISTIC (NAP) should take the beating on the way to a possible Derby bid and is preferred to Tathqeef. Steel of Madrid and Champagne City share the same official rating though the former has the better recent form with a second in a competitive handicap at Haydock a fortnight ago. He may be the one to chase the selection home.
Champagne City 11-4 (9-7) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon hung left, headed 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 6 1/4l behind Another Touch (8-8) at Ayr 1m (2) gd in Sep.
Linguistic (IRE) 11-10fav (9-0) Took keen hold early, held up in last pair, headway and switched right to centre inside final 2f, ridden and hung left over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind Viren's Army (9-0) at Chester 1m 2f lst stks (1) gd in May.
Steel of Madrid (IRE) 17-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, not clear run 2f out, headway over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, ran on strongly and went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Shaiyem (8-6) at Haydock 1m hcp (3) gd in May.
Tathqeef (USA) 5-1 (9-0) Raced wide, keen, tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 4 3/4l behind Hawkbill (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stks (1) gs in Apr.
Algometer 12-1 (9-1) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, strongly pressed and narrowly headed over 1f out, chased winner and every chance when edged right final furlong, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Midterm (9-1) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gs in Apr.